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This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized
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(tngl\sb Scholar’s ^ibnvi) ot
anb KLokrn ffiilflvks,
The History of Reynard the Fox .
TRANSLATED BY
William Caxton.
1481.
Cbiteb b)j <£btearfc Ivbci,
Digitized by
Digitized by
Clje Cngltefy ^cljolarg ttbrar?, etc.
No. i.
The History of RETNJRD the Fox.
June 1481.
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Digitized by t^ooQle
CIje ^nglt0l) ^cJjolar’# ifljrarp of
£>U) anD iHoncrn abortus.
‘The History of Reward the Fox.
TRANSLATED AND PRINTED DY
William Caxton.
June 1481.
Edited by E I) W A R D A R H li R ,
//0A\ FELLOW OF KING'S COLLEGE, LONDON; F.S.A.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH LITERATURE, ETC.,
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON*
#
\o\
A^yJio
\VI
t - -
This Copy is the property of
T H K Ho I) L E l A N 1 , I H k A R V
36, CRAVEN PARK, WILLESDEN. LONDON, N.\7.
15 December, 1880 .
Limited Library Edition, No. x.
(Sill / ra<<
7 / 0 **-.
i - £T* -L.
Digitized by Google
Digitized by
CONTENTS
PAGE
The Personages, &c., in this History . ix-xi
Bibliography. xii
Introduction .xiii-xvi
The history of reynart the foxe i
The Table . 1-3
The Prologue of the Author. ,... 4
The Action of this History. 5-120
.*• Events anterior to the Action, together with the parables, talos, and other
principal speeches, are set in Italic type.
[Part I.]
[Sect i.] Noble, the King of all beasts, summons all animals to his open Court at Whitsun¬
tide, at Stade. 5
IsBGkiM complains of Rf.vnard’s trespasses to his children and with his wife. ... 5
Couktois complains that Reynard stole his pudding . 6
Tibert defends Reynard, and says that the pudding was his . •. 6
The Panther relates how narrowly Kvwart had been murdered by Rf.ynard. 6
Grimbert defends Reynard. 1 SHC,RIM had often mistiealed [unfairly shared] with REY¬
NARD, as in the plaice, and also of the fat flitek of bacon . That trespass with ErsiyYXD
was seven years before her marriage. She was soon healed thereof. She complaineth not /
If K Y IE ART ha<l not learned aright his lesson, should not REYNARD his master beat him
therefore t COUR TV/S had stolen the pudding, who shall blame R/iYXARD if he has taken
stolen goals front a thief l Re. YNARD is now a recluse , and would fain be with GOD ... 7
Chanticleer complains for the murder of his daughter Coppen, whose head Reynard has
bitten off . ... ... .. . 9
King Noble retorts on Grimbert .n
They bnry Coppen with full honours, and erect a marble tombstone to her memory. 11
The King and his Council determine that Reynard shall be sent for . vi
[Sect ii.] Bruin carries the summons to Reynard at Maiy ferdu ... ..si
He is however beguiled by the Fox, and at last caught in a nalf*cloven tree in the yard of
Lantfert, “a strong carpenter ol great timber” living ina neighbouring village to Reynard’s
castle ._ ... 13
All the parish attack the bear ; who, after many blows, escapes, nearly dead, down the river,
with the loss of his scalp, ears, and forepaws.15
With great agony, he returns wenteling [rolling over and or>er again] to the Court . 18
[Sect, iii.] The King and his Council determine to send a Second messenger . 19
Tibert is sent with the second message... ... ... ..19
Has an evil augury from ** St. Martin's birds".19
Tibert is also beguiled by Reynard, is caught at night in a gin in the house of the priest of
Lantkekt's village, is sore beaten, and has one of nis eyes struck out by Martinet the
priest’s son .30
He also returns wenteling to Court, by sunrise.33
[Sect, iv.] Grimbert volunteers to summon his uncle Reynard. ..33
And is well received by him at Maiyperdu ... .. ... 34
Reynard’s family life .. .. 34
On their way to the Court, Reynard shrives himself to Grimbert ..25
He confesses that he has trespassed against all the beasts,especially against BRUIN, TIBERT
and C//A XTtCLEER. He has slandered the King and the Queen. He beguiled fSEGRIM
(1) calling him Eine (friend] though he was nothing of his kin; and at Elmare, where he
matte him a monk when he himself became one, where (2) by his causing /SEGR/Afs feet to
be tied to the bellrope, he was almost beaten to death ; (3) by teaching him to catch fish .
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VI
Contents
PACK
whereby ISF.GRIM received many a stroke, ami (4) in the larder of the richest priest of Ver-
medoos , through which he was so stoned as to be thrown into a ditch outside the village at
dead', (O and afterwards in a hen house, where he was almost smitten to deaths
“ 1 have brought him thus in many a jeopardy, more than 1 can now reckon. I should
find many more, if 1 bethought myself well, which I shall tell you here-if ter. Also 1 have
trespassed with hts wife” .*5
Gkimbert imposes a trifling penance, which Reynard promises to observe [bat nothing
more is heard of it.]. 90
Nevertheless journeying by a Cloister of Black Nuns, Reynard snatches at a fat young capon,
for which Gkymbbrt rebuking him. he offers to sat a paternoster for the souls of all Poultry
and geese he had betrayed and stolen from those holy nuns . Nevertheless the Fox has ever
his eye towards the poultry. ..39
(Sect. Hi.] Though sorely quaking, Reynard comes to the Court with a bold face . 29
He vainly excuses himself to the King. .. ..30
He is arrested and judged to be hanged by the neck. ... ... 31
Tiuert, Isegrim and Bruin prepare to hang him .31
Reynard asks that he may make his dying confession openly .34
All that stood there had pity on him, and said it was but a little request. The King assents... 31
Reynard then confesses, with a large circumstantiality, How he, playing among the lambs,
first tasted blood. How ISF.GRIM and he made an alliance, but the Wolf ever hadthe greatest
skate of the plunder. Vet he did not care, for he had more gold and silver than seven xvaggons
could carry. These riches had been stolen, and if they had not .been stolen, it would Tuive
cost the King his life .. .35
The false tale of the Fox, of the fictitious treason of his own father , his nephew GRIMBERT,
JSEGR/M and TIBER T to make Br UIN the King .36
How his fatherfouttd King Em ERICK" S treasure , and hid it .36
How the five conspirators met between the Ghent and the thorpe called Yfte . 37
How that GRIMBERT, drunk with wine, told the plot to his wife SLOEPCADE ; who told it
to ERMEUN, who told it to Re YNARD .37
How he watched hisfather to find where the treasure was .38
How hefound and stole it . .39
How when his father discovered the theft, he went and hanged himself: and so the con¬
spiracyfor want of that money, was broken . _.39
The Queen hoping to win this treasure moves the king to forgive Reynard his misdeeds :
who tells them that it is in Kreken pit in a wood named Hulsterlo in the wilderness on the
West side of Flanders .41
Kywart being questioned, knows of that place [but Reynard asks nothing of him about
the treasure.].42
Reynard would go there with the King, but the Archdeacon having put him in the Pope's curse
for having persuaded ISEGRIM to tun out of religion, he must go on a pilgrimage to Rome 43
[.Sect, vi.] The King proclaims Reynard’s pardon ... _ ...44
Who secures the arrest of Bruin and Issgrim . ... ... 44
And by the Queen’s favour, obtains for his pilgrimage a square foot of Bruin's skin ** on his
ridge 4 for a scrip, and two shoes tom off from both Isegrim and Ekswynd ... ... 45
The King compels Bellin to bless Reynard’s mail and staff as “belongeth to a pilgrim” ... 46
The King with his whole Court start Reynard on his pilgrimage.48
Who then goes on his way, accompanied by Kywart and Bellin as far as Mai yperdu .
[Sect, vii.l Arrived there, Reynard leaves Bellin outside and invites Kywart inside ... 48
Where he is slain by Reynard, and is eaten by him and his family ; all but his head ... ... 48
Narrating his successful beguilements to Ekmelins, they counsel that the Fox shall give over
his pilgrimage, and stay at home.49
Bellin, still outside and angry at Kywart’s long delay, is beguiled by Reynard : who
sends him back to the Court with Kywart’s head in the scrip and a letter as from himself
which brings him, Dame Olkwky, and all his family to death .51
The King, opening the scrip and reading the letter, discovers his deception ; releases Bruin
and Isegrim, and for a reward gives Bellin and all his lineage to them for a Drey for ever 53
Then feasted the King twelve days longer for the love of the Bear and of the Wolf, so glad
was he of the making of this peace [0. ... 54
[Part II.]
[Sect, i.] At this great feast, came all manner of beasts. About noon on the eighth additional day
Lai-keel the Cony complains to him that Reynard, standing before his Castle door like a
pilgrim, tore off his ear and made four great holes in his head .54
Cokhant the Rook complains that Reynard bit off the head of Shakpdeck his wife, and
then eat her so hungrily that he left only a few feathers .55
All the Court quake at the wrath of the King at these misdeeds .57
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C O NT ENTS
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PACE
The Queen says, " Hear the other side ! ” .57
Firapebl advises that if Reynard come not before the end of the feast, then let him be
sore punished according to his trespasses .57
The King will send no special messen-erto the Fox .58
rScct. ii.] Grim BERT in great sorrow and anger, runs the highway towards Mai y perdu.
He spares neither bush nor haw, but he hastens so sorely that he did sweat ... _. 5*
He finds Reynard standing, with two young pigeons: who receives his news with a cool
assurance, “ Puff,” dear nephew, “ is there nothing else ? ”
They go in to the burgh and all the family sup on the pigeons, " as far as it would stretch **... 60
They go to sleep, except the Fox who was all heavy, and lay and sighed and sorrowed how he
might best excuse himself.6r
On the morrow early he rooms [left] the castle and goes towards the Court .61
On the way, he asks Grimhkrt to shrive him a second time. He confesses to all the matters
which previously in the History have been laid to his charge. And also to the great deceit
he practised on ISEGR/Af as to the red mare that had the price 0/ her foal written on her
foot, which was new shod with iron and six strong nails .61
Reynard’s view of human life .64
[Sect, iii.) With such manner of talking they come walking into the Court .65
Reynard stoutly excuses himself to the King.66
The King replies, “ I think well that ye shall this day for your works be hanged by your neck ” 67
Kkynakd replies. Though 1 were condemned to death, yet ought ye to hear my words out.
When Gr/A/BER T brought me first these tidings had / not leen in the censures of the
Church, I had without tarrying have come to the Court ; but / went doling on the heath .
and wist not what to do/or sorrow. Then Mar TIN the Ape, who has been Advocate to the
Bishop of Camerik these nine years fast, met with me .68
/ told him [my own version] of what LAPREEL and CORBANT had done, and their false
complaints to the King .69
The Ape said, *‘Go to the Court, and excuse yourself ” .69
"A las. friend," said I, '* that may not be. For the A rchdeacon has put me in the Pope's curse" 69
** Hay, cousin " said he, *' be not afraid. 1 understand this business. 1 will cite the Arch¬
deacon, and bring you an absolution against his will. Go to Court, where you shallfind
R l/K'EAA ir my wife , het two sisters, my three children, and many more of our lineage, who
will gladly do somewhat for their friends " .70
*‘Aud if you be so overcharged that you may have no right, send to me night and day to the
Court of Rome; and let me have knotvledge thereof; and [This was Reynard’s boldest lie]
all those that be in the laud—is it King or Queen, Wife or Man—I shall bring them alt in
the Pope's curse. Por the Cardinal of PURE GOLD has my niece for his conruoine ”. 70
My lord, the Kiug ! when 1 hearti this, I laughed ; and with great gladness came hither, and
have told you all truth" . # .71
All the beasts, both poor and rich, were all still when the Fox spoke so stoutly.71
Lapreel and Corbant escape from the Court, saying, “ GOD grant that this fell murderer
may fare evil! He can bewrap and cover his falsehood that his words seem as true as gospel.
Hereof knoweth no man than we, how should we bring witnesses? It is better we wyke
\flee] and depart than that we should hold a field and fight with him ; he is so shrewd. Yea,
though there were five of us, we could not defend ourselves ; but would slay us all”. 71
Isegrym and Bruin were wood [mad] in themselves to see these two escape from the Court 71
The Fox offers for the King’s sake, to pardon and forgive [!] Laprbel ana Corbant ... 7a
[Sect, iv.l The King then clmrges him with Kywaet’s death .7a
Then is Reynard sore afraid. He wists not what to say. He is at his wits’ end, and looks
about him piteously. But no man proffers him hand. The Fox stands in great dread and
sighs so that all hear him ; but the Wolf and the Bear are glad .7a
It happens well for the Fox that Dame Rukenaw the She Ape was there .73
Her first speech on behalf of Reynard.73
The King’s rejoinder.74
Her second speech in favour of the Fox, in which occurs.74
The Parable of a Man that delivered a Serpent from peril of death .75
She summons all the friends and kin of the Fox to the number of forty [what we should now
call a political demonstration] ... .« .79
Firapeel says, “ Sire, you may judge no further than your men give verdict ”.. .. 80
The King said, "This is all true. I shall hear the Fox. Can he excuse himself of that is laid
against him ? ”.80
Reynard was glad at these words, and thought, “GODthank mine aunt! / havenow a good
foot to dance on, I shall now look out of mine eyes, and bring forth the fairest leasings that
ever man heard, and bring myself out of this danger ” .80
[Sect v.] The Foxecries, Alas ! what say ye f Is KYlVARTdead f Andwhere is BELUN the
Rami [Eaten, as he well knew, by Bruin and Isegrim]. What brought he to you when he
came again f For I delivered unto him three jewels. One for the King, the other two for my
Lady the Queen ...80
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fa an
. St
... 81
Let »*■
pass ! ”. # .~ .81
14 Nay Aunt! think not that ? Never King ever gave such rich jewel* as these be ”. 81
The King says, “Beli.in brought us nought else but Kywart’s head" ...
Rbynakd's great [ prrtcmUtt] grief at the loss of his jewels.
Dame Rukenaw saith, 44 Dear nephew, what profiteth that ye make all this sorrow.
Reynard's description of the Jewels—
A RING OF FINE GOLD. Within were written in sable and azure three Hebrew names
which Master ARRION of Tyre told me were the three names which SETH brought out
of Paradise when he brought to his father ADAM the Oil of Merer. II hosoever beare/h
the names shall never be hurt by thunder or lightning , nor no witchcraft shall have funoer
over him, nor shall he be tempted to do sin. He never shall take harm by cold though he lay
three long winter nights in the field, though it snowed, stormed or froze never so sore. ... 81
Without the ring was a stow of three manner of colours,
the ofte part was RED, and the shining of the stone made as great a light at night as midday,
another fart was WHITE and could cure any outward sickness, or if the stone was laid in
the water, that water being drunk would cure any inward sickness.
and the last part was GREEN like glass, but there were some sprinkles therein like purple,
that made the possessor of it beloved even by his enemies.
But he must be a noble gentleman and have no churTs conditions, and therefore / sent it to
my dear Lord the King. I found this ring in my father’s treasure [which he had stolen,
P • 39] . 82
A COMB MADE OF PaNTHER's BONE, which is a beast that for his beauty and sweet smell¬
ing is followed of all other beasts .83
On this comb is engraven the Judgment of PARIS .83
The Mirror or Glass in an Ebony frame and handle.
The same wood that King CROMPART made the wooden flying horse for the love of
King MOR DIG AG A's daughter.
On this mirror was engraved the Fables of(i) the Horse that came into subjection by
asking an Herdsman to ride on him to take an Hart .85
(2) The Ass that kissed his Master like a dog . ...86
[Hearken farther how my father and TIBER T went together ] ...87
ip The Wolf and the Stork .88
All thus and much snore than / can now well remember was made and wrought on this glass 89
[Sect, vi.) 44 Dear Lord / remember not ye when my Lord your father lived and ye a young¬
ling of two years [ !J ”.89
How R E YNARD's father prescribed ISEGRlM’s Iwer to make the Kings father whole ; and
when JSEGRIM objected he was not five years old: he said, * 4 What skilleth these words t Let
him be opened, and / shall know by the liver if it be goodfor you or not t" .90
How / treated you better than ISEGRIM when we met you and the Queen .91
The King says, 44 Reynard ! ye say reasonably. I know not of Kywart's death more than
the Bf.llin the Ram [now dead\ brought his head hither in the mail. Therefore I let you
go quit. For 1 have no witness hereof”’. .. 93
They all sorrow with the Fox for the loss of his jewels . 93
[Sect, vii.] Now hath the Fox his matter fast and fair. He hath made so many leasings
that he may go freely whither he will without complaining of any of them all; save of Isegkim 94
Isegkim complains on Reynard for the rape of his wife Erswynd .. 94
Which Reynard denies. .... 94
Ekswynd tells of the trick Reynard served her at the well . 96
“Aunt,” said the Fox, 44 though the strokes did you harm, I had rather you had them than I" 97
At Isegrim’s request, Reynard tells The Story of these two and the She Ape . 97
[Sect. viiL] Isbgrim challenges Reynard, who takes up his glove. The King fixes a day
and field . 101
Dame Ru kenaw’s advice to Reynard .102
The Combatants meet and fight.:.104
After much skirmishing, the Fox is undermost . ... 108
But flattering Isegrim, he gets his paw out of his mouth, and by an unfair stratagem wins
the fight . mx
How the Fox has the worship .112
He tells the King The parable of the Dog with the scalded haunches . 113
The King mak«s Reyn ard of his Council and one of his Justices ... . 115
The Fox with his friends and lineage depart from Noble the King, and arrive at Maly pentu 116
The Author's Reflections
The Author’s Epilogue
William Caxton’s Epilogue
117
119
120
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THE PERSONAGES , fcfr., OF THIS
HIS TORT.
Herr Ernst Martin's edition of Relvaert— Willems Gedicht van
den vos Reinaerde. Paderbom, 1874. 8vo.—besides a fuller, though cor¬
responding text, in verse , contains an excellent glossary, the mere perusal
of which shows clearly how much nearer the Low German is related to
the English than to the present German. For many of the words may be
rightly guessed at offhand by an ordinary Englishman to whom the
German equivalents would be quite unintelligible. The Text reprinted by
Herr Martin we will, for our present purpose, designate as Willem's Text.
Then we have the Low German prose version, the printing of which
Gerard Leeu finished at Gouda in Holland on the 17th of August 1479.
We shall here call this Leeu's Text. It is possibly a rude prose account
of Willem’s Text.
There is then Caxton's Text; which, for all that he says in the Epi¬
logue, is not a precise translation, but has, in places, omissions from and
abridgments of the “ Dutch " or Low German copy.
By the help of Herr Martin’s glossary we are able to give the names
—generic and personal—of most of the Animals in this story.—
Animals who speak or act.
Willem . Leeu.
The Lion, King of\ Nobel
all beasts )
The Lioness ,
Queen.
The Leopard .
The Panther.
The Bear.
The Wolf.
his wife .
The Fox.
his wife .
the)
Firapeel
Bruun
ISENGRIJN
JEerswijn or)
(IlAERSINT I
Reinaert
( Ermeline or)
Hermeune /
Nobel
personal name ]
Firapeel
[A r 0 personal name.]
1 Bruninck
■1 Bruun )
t Bruyn )
Ysegkim
Eerswijn
Reynaert
Armeline
their eldest son.
their second son.
their youngest son ,
The Badger,
his wife.
Reinaerdijn
Rosseel
Reinaerdine
Grimueert
SLUrECADE
REYNAERD1JN
Roesel
REYNKEN
Grymbert
Slupecade
CA X TOM.
Noble
Firapeel
Brown yng
Bruin
ISEGRIM
Erswynd
Reynard
Ermeline
Reynardyn
Rossel
Reinikin
Grim bert
Slopecade
pace.
passim
57
57
5 . 30
12
passim
passim
passim
passim
24
69
25
25
passim
37. 112
Digitized by t^ooQle
X
The Persoxages, &c., of this History.
Wl LLEU.
Leeu.
C 4 -X TON.
page
The Cat \
Tibeert
Tybert
Tibert (A""'" «
1 Pmt T. Sr 87
The Hare.
CUWAERT
Kyvvaert
Kywert
7, 42
The Cony [Rabbit]. Lampreel
Lampreel
Lampreel
55
The Ram.
liELIJN
Bellijn
Bellin
30, 48-53
his wife.
Hawi
Olevvy
Olewey
30, 53
The Hound.
CORTOIS
Cortois
COURTOIS
6
The Cock.
Canticleer
Cantenkleer
Chantecleer 9
his daughter.
COPPE
Coppen
Coppen
9
his other daughter.
Cantaert
Cantart
Cantart
9
his third daughter.
Craeiant
Craeyant
Crayant
9
The Raven.
Tiecelijn
Tyselijn
Tyselyn
44
The Ape.
Mertijn
Martijn
Martin
63
The She Ape.
Rukenau
Rukenaw
Rukenaw
73~ 112
their elder daughter. BlTELUUS
Biteluys
Byteluys
79, 112
their son.
Vuulromp
VULROMP
Fulrompe
79, 112
their younger )
daughter. )
Hatenet
Hatenettb
Hatenette
79, “2
The Rook.
CORBOUT
CORBANT
Corbant
55
his wife.
Sciierpenebbe
Scherpenebbe
Sharpbeck
55
The Camel
[Alb personal name .]
3 1
The Goose
Brukeel
Bruneel
Brunel
3i
The Ass
Boudewijn
Boudewijn
Boudewyn
3 1
The Bull
Borreel
Borre
Borre
3*
The Cow
[omitted]
Harmel
Hamel
3»
Animals who are mentioned (often without any personal
name) but who neither speak nor act.
The Stjitirrel'.
Eenkoom
eechom
squyrel
79
The ( 7 ) Weasel.
Muushont
muushont
musehout
3 L 79
The (/) Pole Cat.
Fluwijn
fluwijn
fyehews
79, 112
The Marten.
Maerter
marter
martron
79, 112
The Beaver.
Bever
Beuer
Beuer
79, 112
with his wife.
Oordegale
ORDEGALE
ORDEGALE
79 , 112
The Genet Cat.
Ghenet
genette
genete
79
The(!)
Oostrale
ostrole
ostrole
79, 119
The (t) Pole Cat.
Bunsinc
Boussinc
boussyng
79
The Ferret.
Foret
foret
fyret
79, 112
The Otter.
Otter
Otter
oter 79,
104, 112
with his wife.
Pan th ec rote
Pantecroet
Pantecroet
79, “2
Digitized by G,ooole
The Personages, &c., of this History.
xi
Willem.
Leeu.
Caxton. page
A She Ape. Dame.
Aelcrotte
Atrote
atrote
79
[her sister.
Quanteskieve
quante en sleiue omitted']
79
The Weasel.
Wesel
wesel
wesel
79
The Ermine.
Hermel
hermel
hermel
79
The Hedgehog.
Eghel
egel
translated as the
asse
79
The Flitter Mouse.
vledermuus
vledermuijs
translated as the
backe 79,
112
Tke Water Fat.
Waterrat
water rotte
watrerattj
79
[ The Bittern.
Watermael
water hoen
omitted]
79
Subordinate human characters.
The King's clerk. Botsaert Boekekt Bok[w]art 52
[? mail or animal]
The following peasants , <5rv., inhabiting a village near the Fox's Castle.
Tke strong Carpenter. LAMFROIT Lantfert Lantfert 14, 15, 16
Ihe Priest. [JVb personal name. ] 15, 16
his wife. Julockk
their son. Martinet
with the crooked leg. HUGHELIJN
with the broad long nose. L u do l f
the long. Lott ram
with the longfingers. BERTOUT
Abel Quac
Dame. Bave
Jii.ok
Jui.ok
*5
Martinet
Martinet
22
IlUGEI.IJN
Hugiielyn
16
Ludolf
Ludolf
16
Ottram
Ottram
16
Bertoll
Bertolt
16
AUELQUAC
ABELQUAK
16
Bave
Baue
16
On the minutue of criticism, as to original Low German spelling &c.,
Caxton’s text is of little value. His own English will however be better
understood by references to the language from which he translated ; but it
is nevertheless, for the most part, strongly idiomatic. Willem's has the
best spelling of names, &c., in the three Texts. Meanwhile for the pre¬
sent impression, this comparison will suffice to foreacquaint the readers
with the principal Actors in this History.
The names of the places are after the Low German forms ending in
-loo, -ittg, and so forth : but all precision as to locality in Flanders is most
carefully avoided ; though places beyond, as Montpelier, Akon [Aachen or
Aix-la-Chapdle\ are introduced to give local effect.
Caxton is responsible for making Isegrim going to Oxford &c., p. 62,
which is a fair instance of his adapted translation of the whole book.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY .
A. General critical Study .
The Literature of the Reynardine History, already very large, is ever growing.
One cannot better begin the study of it than with Mr. Thom’s Introtiuctory Sketch
of the Literary History of the Romance prefixed to No. 4 , below, and with the
many works of which he there gives the titles. Since that was written, the study
has gone on, fresh manuscripts have been discovered, and the following works,
which may be consulted with advantage, issued.
1863. Groningen. 8vo. M. W. J. A. JoNckbloet. Etmie sur le Roman de
Res art.
1872. Basle. 8vo. Herr Ernst Martin. Examen Critique des Afanuscrits
du Roman de Res art. A masterly brochure, which describes the principal •
known MSS. in Europe.
1874. Paderbom. 8vo. Herr Ernst Martin has also published Reisaf.rt.
Willems Gedicht van den vos Reinacrde , und die umarbeitung und
forsetzung Reisaert's Historic.
Subsequent to its original composition in Flanders in the 12th century, this
History was (like the Arthurian Romances) taken in hand by other writers of dif¬
ferent nations, and expanded in various directions: so that the entire Cycle of the
Romance now comprises some 41,000 verses containing^ Branches or Stories,
the titles of which llerr Martin gives in his Examen. We may hope from that
patient and accomplished Scholar a complete edition of the whole Cycle.
B. Editions of the unexpanded Story .
ISSUES IN TRANSLATOR’S LIFETIME,
L 17 Aug. 1479. Gouda 4to. Ilystorie van Regnaert die vos. [Colophon] Hicr
eyndet die hystorie van reynaert die vos, ende is gheprent ter goude in
hollant by mi gheraert leeu den seuentienden dach in augusto Int iaer
M.CCCC. en LXXIX.
Of earlier date than any other printed Reynard in any language whatso¬
ever. The copy in the GrevUle Collection fs thought to be the only one in
existence.
2 . June 1481. Westminster 4to. The printing of Caxton’s translation finished,
See p. 120. Very rare.
3 . [14S9. Westminster 4to.] A second Edition printed by Canton. Without
printer’s name, or place, or date. The only known copy is iu the
Pepysian Library, Cambridge. See Catalogue of Caxton Celebration ,
1S77, /• 21. No. 156.
The popularity of the Work accounts for the rarity of these copies.
These early editions were thumbed out of existence.
ISSUES SINCE HIS DEATH.
Many other Versions, of course, exist in English : but we here confine ourselves
to reprints of Caxton’s Translation,
4 1844. Ixmdon 8vo. Percy Society. The History of Reynard the Fox. Ed. by
W. J. Thoms, F.S.A., with the excellent Introiluctory Sketch above
referred to.
5 . 15 Aug, 1878. Southgate, London, N. The present impression.
.*. The comparative study of Reynard and the cognate Romances of its time would
prove a fascinating inquiry for any active intelligence now idle. Englishmen
sadly need vivid conceptions of foreign life and manners from 900 to 1200 a.d.
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I NT R O D UCTIO N .
«QSSS>>
The story of Reintcke Fuchs, or to give it the original I*ow German name, R (incite de Fos, is,
more than any other, a truly European performance : for some centuries, a universal household
possession and secular Bible, read every where, in the palace and the hut; it still interests us,
moreover, by its intrinsic worth, being on the whole the most poetical and meritorious production
of our Western World in that kind; or perhaps of the whole World, though, in such matters, the
West has generally yielded to, and learned from the East. Thomas CarlYle. German Lit. &c.
Foreign Quarterly Rev. No. XVI./. 381. Ed. 1831.
... So much for the outward fortunes of this remarkable Book. It comes before us with a
character such as can belong only to a very few ; that of being a true world's-Book, which through
centuries was every where at home, the spirit of which diffused itself into all languages and all
minds. The quaint A£sopic figures have pairted therpselves in innumerable heads ; that rough
deep-lying humour has been the laughter of many generations. So that, at worst, We must regard
this Reineckc as an ancient Idol, once wi shipped, and still interesting for that circumstance, were
the sculpture never so rude. We can love it, moreover, as being indigenous, wholly of our own
creation : it sprang up from European sense and character, and was a faithful type and organ of
these.
But independently of all extrinsic considerations, the fable of Reineche may challenge a
judgement on its own merits. Cunningly constructed, and not without a true poetic life, we must
admit it to be: great power of conception and inventijn, great pictorial fidelity, a warm, sunny
tone of colouring, tux manifest enough. It is full of broad, rustic mirth ; inexhaustible in comic
devices; a World-Saturnalia, where Wolves tonsured into Monks, and nigh starved by short
commons, Foxes pilgriming to Rome for absolution. Cocks pleading at the judgment-bar, make
strange mummery. Nor is this wild Parody of Human Life without its meaning and moral: it is an
Air-pageant from Fancy's Dream-grotto, yet Wisdom lurks in it; as we gaze the vision becomes
poetic and prophetic. A true Irony must have dwelt in the Poet's heart and head : here, under
grotesque shadows, he gives the saddest picture of Reality; yet for us without sadness ; his figures
mask themselves in uncouth, bestial vizards, and enact, gambolling ; their Tragedy dissolves
into sardonic grins. He has a deep, heartfelt Humotir sporting with the world and its evils in kind
mockery; this is the poetic toui t round which the outwtrd materiel has fashioned itself into
living coherence. And so, in that rude old Apologue, we have still a mirror, though now tarnished
and time-worn, of true magic reality: and can discern there, in cunning reflex, some image both
of our destiny and of our duty ; for now, as then, “ Prudence is the only virtue sure of its reward,"
and Cunning triumphs where Honesty is worsted ; and now, as then, it is the wise man's part to
know this, and cheerfully look for it, and cheerfully defy it:
Ul vulpis adulatio
Here thro’ his own world moveth,
Sic ho mi nix et ratio
Most like to Rbymard proveth.
If Reineche is nowise a perfect Comic Epos, it has various features of such, and, above all, a
genuine Epic spirit, which is the rarest feature— Idem. /, 385.
.Nevertheless, the old Low-German original has also a certain charm, and simply as the
original would claim some notice. It was reckoned greatly the best performance that was ever
brought out in that Dialect; interesting, moreover, in a philological point of view, especially to us
English; being properly the language of our old Saxon Fatherland ; and still curiously like our
own, though the two, for some twelve centuries, have had no brotherly communication. —
idem. /. 388.
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XIV
/ NTRODUCTION ,
[He scene of the Low German Version of this History
from which Caxton made his translation is laid in
the midst of Flanders, “between the Elbe and
the Somme,” /. 39. The Lion's feast is held at
Stade at Whitsuntide; and the whole action is com¬
prised in that one feast; which however was extended
for twelve days longer on account of the King's
temporary love for the Bear and the Wolf, p . 54.
The Action consists of Two Parts, containing Three Occurrences.
The first Occurrence is the Summons, pp . 11-24, Shriving,//. 25-28,
Trial,//. 29-40, and Acquittal,//. 41-44, of Reynard for injuries offered
to Isegrim,/. 5 ; robbery from Courtois, p. 6 ; the attempted murder of
Kywart,/. 7 ; and the successful murder of Coppen,/. 9.
The Second Occurrence is on pretty much the same ground, though with
fresh incidents. It is the Warning (by Grimbert),/. 58, Shriving,//.
60-66, Trial, pp. 66-92, and Acquittal, //. 93-94, of Reynard, for the
murders of Kywart,/. 49, and of Sharpbeck,/. 55, and the assault on
Lapreel, /. 54.
The Third Occurrence is the Complaint of Isegrim against Reynard,
pp. 94-101, followed by his challenge,/. 101. Then comes the spirited
Fight between them, so graphically told at pp. 102-112, in which Reynard
by dishonest craft wins the day, /. 112, “ has the worship," and is finally
exonerated from all his crimes.
So that the Story is the History of the Three fraudulent Escapes of the
Fox from punishment, the Record of the Defeat of Justice by flattering lips
and dishonourable acts.
The lying is so witty, cunning, and clever, that we do well perpetually
to remember the evil deeds of which it is the cloak. Ravin and violence
are in all Reynard’s acts ; whatever he may say.
The Second Part is not however wholly consistent with the First, as—
Grimbert is Reynard’s “susters sonne"at/. 7, his “brother sonne”
at /. 58.
Reynard’s father hangs himself at /. 39, but Master Reynard is the
King’s physician and crowned with flowers at /. 90.
Tibert, a prominent actor in the First Half; disappears in the Second,
except in Reynard’s story at /. 87.
Reynard’s rape on Erswynd was before her marriage with Isegrim
at /. 8, but after it at /. 94.
Malyperdu is in a wood at /. 12, but on a heath at/. 6c.
The description of the marvellous virtue of the magic comb made of
a Panther's bone at p. 83 is made in forgetfulness that a Panther is a
speaker at /. 6. And so on.
In the First Part, too, the speeches are shorter, the action more rapid,
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Introduction.
xv
and the expression gurer. In the Second Part there is perhaps both more
subtility, and more moral reflection in the talk.
All this points to the supposition that the Continuator of the Second
Part was not the Author of the original Story.
II.
He subtility of the book is marvellous. Take two instances.
In the First Half, Grim BERT, unwilling to see his uncle hanged,
leaves or, as the Text has it “ rooms " the Court. Reynard
takes unpremeditated advantage of his unexpected absence
to colour his fiction of the pretended Conspiracy to make
Bruin the King, by the inclusion of his relative Grimbert among the
plotters, which no one in his nephew’s absence was able to controvert.
In the Second part, Reynard, at his wits* end, sees Rukenaw, the
She Ape at the Court; whereupon he also feigns the story of having met
with her husband Martin the Ape, and of the instructions he had given
through him to her to befriend him. The whole of his subsequent deliver¬
ances are owing to Rukenaw’s advocacy and counsel: yet as Reynard
had never met Martin, she was as much deluded as any in the Court.
And so through not a few other instance^ the action all turns on
Credence in circumstantial but uncorroboratea Assertions. The veri¬
similitude of the accounts given by Reynard bewilders us until we check
them by the facts of the antecedent story ; and then we see that it is
all only the affiance of simple Honesty in the wiles of Craft.
There are many touches of fine humour, keen observation, and strong
satire in the work. The Author’s Epilogue, at /. 119, is the offspring of
an innocent mirthful wit Reynard’s brains are necessary for his own
efficient hanging at/. 32. The strong contrast between his real nature
and home life very briefly sketched out at //. 12, 17, 24,25, 48, 49,
54, 58-60; and his character, appearances and speeches at Court, which
occupy most of the book. The scathing satire on the prelates and rich
curates at /. 64, with Bishop Prendelor [? Taker of Gold ] and Sir
Rapiamus his official, at /. 46, and the Cardinal of Pure Gold and his
concubine at/. 71.
The whole history is brimful of intention. Every personal name, every
movement in it, has a meaning, and is worthy of our attention. In the
framework of it, the murders and injuries are inflicted on the lesser
animals, in order that the greater ones may speak and carry on the action.
There is a studied irrelevance mixed with a crafty conveyance in
Reynard’s speeches. The slightest and most incidental allusion or
illustration of one sentence (when he wishes it) becomes the main theme
of the next, and so he wanders away on and on from his point to the
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XVI
In tr oduc tion.
bewildering of all his hearers. On the other hand, in all this irrelevancy,
he contrives that his speeches, whether pertinent or irrelative, shall tend to
the discredit of his enemies.
III.
Astly, we can but touch on the strong moral purpose of the
work. Rightly to understand this we must remember that the
King is endowed with irresistible might, from which there is
no appeal whatever. Reynard says, “ I may not escape
yow. we stonde all vnder your correccion. ye be mighty and
stronge.”/. 30. The Courtiers, or Barons, are all strong-fisted thieves,
who “ make unright go aboue right,” p. 65. The Story is therefore that
of the struggle between the power of Words and the power of Blows, a
conflict between Mind and Matter. It was necessary for the physically
weak to have Eloquence ; the blame of Reynard is in the frightful
misuse he makes of it. The Author’s spiritual purpose comes out
1. In the exposure of the Gospel of Lying according to Reynard.
The mere statement of such principles as these was their condemnation.
Who otherwise will now haunt and use the world than
devise a leasing in the fairest wise, and that bewimple with
kerchiefs about in such wise that men take for a truth, he is
not run away from his master. This man may do wonders.
He may wear scarlet, &c. j>. 64.
Who can give to his leasing a conclusion and pronounce
it without tattling, like as it were written before him, and
that he can so blind the people that his leasing shall be better
believed than the truth —that is the man. p. 65.
2. In his observations that—
There is in the world much seed left of the Fox, which
now over all groweth and cometh sore up, though they have
no red beards. Yet there be found more foxes than ever
were heretofore. The righteous people be all lost. Truth
and Righteousness be exiled and fordriven : and for them
abide with us Covetousness, Falsehood, Hate, and Envy.
These reign now much in every country, p. 117.
3. And in his final reflections—
And herewith will I leave. For what have I to write of
these misdeeds. I have enough to do with mine own self:
and so it were better that I held my peace and suffer. And
the best that I can do is to amend myself now in this time.
And so I counsel every man to do here in this present life, &c.
p . 118.
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C&e 6nglfe?) £>cl)olar'g Jltbrarp
of flDID ant) itfioDern eftorftg.
OLD SERIES.
LIMITED L J 7 ? R A KY EDITION.
In Sets only; of which but 257 are printed.
No. 1.
The History of Reynard the Fox .
TRANSLATED AND PRINTED BY
William Caxton.
June 1481.
This Copy is the property of
T H E B O D E E l A N LIBRARY.
We hereby Certify that this Large Paper
impression consists of only Two Hundred
and Fifty Seven copies; of which this is
fUlLUiin. rnthpr.9,
PRINTERS. EDITOR.
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SUBSCRIBERS.
1 . Henry Morley, Esq., LL.D. t Prof, of English Literature,
University Col., Gower street, London, W.C.
2 . Henry Pyne, Esq., late Assistant Tithe Commissioner,
Uckfield , Sussex.
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York, U.S.A.
4 ... The Library of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London , E.C.
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6 . Dr. Henrik Schuck, Upsala, Sweden.
7 . Richard Johnson, Esq., Kemnal Manor, Chislehurst, Kent.
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10 ... The Rt. Hon. Lord Coleridge, Lord Chief Justice of England, Sussex
* . square, London, IV.
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12 ... The Library of Queen’s College, Oxford, Oxford.
13 . Peter R< dpath, Fsq., of Montreal, Temple gardens,
London, E. C.
14 His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, Devonshire House, London, IV.
15 . James W. Cook, Esq., Mark lane, London, E.C.
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street, Manchester.
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18 ... R. T. Hamilton Bruce, Esq., Randolph Cliff, Edinburgh.
19 . Charles Costeker, Esq., Moorthorpe, Over Darwen, Lan¬
cashire.
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22 ... The Rt. Hon. Lord Carlingford, Carlton gardens, Lotulon, S.W.
23 . William Smither, Esq., Well street, London, E.
24 ... The Library of the University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews.
25 . John Oakey, junior, Esq., Westminster Bridge road,
London, S.E.
26 . John Morison, Esq., Bumbank gardens, Glasgow.
27 . Francis F. Fox, Esq., Clifton, Bristol.
28 ... The Library of the Hon. Soc. of King’s Inns, Dublin.
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80 . Edward Adamson, Esq., M.D., Rye, Sussex .
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London ,
87. Walter C. Renshaw, Esq., Lincoln's Inn, London , JF. C.
38. C. H. Everard, Esq., Eton College, Windsor .
89 . Cornelius Paine, Esq., 7W», Brighton .
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Eden place , Birmingham .
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
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40.
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48 . . .
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53 .
58.
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W!)te is t\>e table of tlje l)tstor?e of
repnart tlje fore
[The First Part.]
3 n tbe first booto tbe fepnge of alle bestes
tbe Ipon belbe bio court capitulo .primo.
£oto 3lsegrpm tbe toolf complapneo first
on tbe fore ca .0.
Cbe complaint of curtops tbe bounb anb of
tbe catte Cpbert capitulo .iij.
l^oto grpmbert tbe basse tbe fores susters
sone anstoerb for tbe fore to tbe fepnge
capitulo .fill*.
J£)oto cbantecler tbe cofi complapneb on tbe
fore ca. .0:
l£>oto tbe fepngesapbe toucbpng tbe complapnt
ca ,Pj.
l^oto brupn tbe bere spebbe toptb tbe fore
capitulo .bij:
feoto tbe bere ete tbe bonp capitulo .bin.
Cbe complapnt of tbe bere upon tbe fore
capitulo .ir.
$oto tbe fepnge sente Cpbert tbe catte for tbe
fore ca .r.
£oto gtpmbert brought tbe fore to tbe latoe ca .r i.
J£>oto tbe fore to as sbrpuen to grpmbert
capitulo .rtf.
l^oto tbe fore cam to tbe court anb ercuseb
bpm ca .riir
l£oto tbe fore teas aresttb anb 3[ugeb to betb
ca .riitf.
£ wg. Sen. Lib . No. 1. 2
Digitized by t^ooQle
2
[Tiie Table of the History.]
fcotothe fore teas lesse to thegaltoes capituto .ro.
t£>oto the fore mase open confession to fore the
fepnge ans to fore alle them that tools bere
it capituto .rtu
tt)oto the fore brought them in Danger that toots
haue brought hpm to Seth 3ns hoto he gate
the grace of the fepng capituto .roij.
!t)oto the toutf ans the bere toere arestps bp
the labour of the fore capituto .ror'j.
t£>oto the toutf ans his topf suffres her shops to
be ptuckps of 9nD hoto the fore spse them
on his feet ffor to go to tome capituto .rir.
t£>oto feptoart the hare toas stapn bp the fore
capituto .rr.
t£oto the fore sente the hares hees to the fepnge
bp bellpn the IRarnme capituto. .rrj.
l£>oto bellpn theramme ans alle his tpnage toere
jugges to be gpuen to the toutf ans to the
bere capituto .rrij :
[The Second Part.]
^oto the fepnge hetse his feste/ ans lapreet the
conpcomplapnestohpmofthefore capituto .rriii.
tt)oto corbant the roefecomptapnes on the fore
for the seth of his topf capituto. .rriiii.
Jboto the fepnge toas angrp of these com*
ptapntes. ca *rrti.
t£>oto grpmbert toames the fore that the fepnge
toas toroth ans toots stee hpm capituto .rroj.
t^oto the fore cam agapn to the court ans of
his shrifte capituto .rroii.
t£oto the fore ercuses hpm before the fepnge. ca .rroiij.
Digitized by t^ooQle
[Tiie Table of the History.] 3
£oto Dame iRufeenatoe tbe sbe ape anstoerD
ffor tfje fare capitulo *rrir
3 parable of a man tobicbe DelpuereD a serpent
from Detb capitulo .rrr.
©f them that to ere ftenDis anD fepn to tbe fore.
ca. .rrrr
iboto tbe fore subtpllp ercuseD bpm of tbe Detb
of tbe bare ano of other maters /anD boto be
gate bis pees ca mb'.
Doto tbe toulf complapneD on tbe fore capitulo .rrrii).
3 parable of tbe fore anD tbe toulf capitulo .rrriiir
&oto tbe toulf caste bio gloue to fight toitb tbe
fore capitulo rrrti.
£oto tbe fore tofee bp tbe gloue /3nD tbe fepnge
sette them Dap 3nD felDe for to figbte ca. .rrrto.
Iboto Dame rufeenatoe tbe sbe ape counseplleD
tbe tore l£>oto be sbolD Doo in tbe felD apenst
tbe toulf .ca .rrrbii.
$oto tbe fore cam in to tbe felD capitulo rrrbii)
lj)oto tbe tore anD tbe toulf tougbten to gpDre.
ca .rrrir.
$>oto tbe fore bepng bnDer tbe toulf toitb
glospng anD flaterptig toorDes came to bis
aboue capitulo rl
tooto psegrpm tbe toulf teas ouercomen anD
tbe oatapl fpnpssbpD anD boto tbe fore baD
tbe toorsbip capitulo rl)
3n erample tbat tbe tore tolD to tbefepng toban
be baD toonne tbe felDe capitulo rlif
^oto tbe fore toitb bis ftenDes DeparteD noblp
fro tbe fepnge anD toente to bis castel
maleperDups/ capitulo rtii)
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l£>pet berjpnnetf) tfre f)]pstorpe of repnart) tDe fore
N this historye ben wreton the parables / goode
lerynge/and dyuerse poyntes to be merkyd/by
whiche poyntes men maye lerne to come to the
subtyl knoweleche of suche thynges as dayly ben
vsed and had in the counseyllys of lordes and prelates gostly
and worldly / and / also emonge marchantes and other comone
peple/And this booke is maad for nede and prouffyte of alle
go L r o]d folke/As fer as they in redynge or heeryng of it shal
mowe vnderstande and fele the forsayd subtyl deceytes that
dayly ben vsed in the worlde/not to th[e]entente that men
shold vse them but that euery man shold eschewe and kepe
hym from the subtyl false shrewis that they be not deceyuyd /
Thenne who that wyll haue the very vnderstandyng of this
mater/he muste ofte and many tymes rede in thys boke and
ernestly and diligently marke wel that he redeth/ffor it is
sette subtylly / lyke as ye shal see in redyng of it/and not
ones to rede it ffor a man shal not wyth ones ouer redyng
fynde the ryght vnderstandyng ne comprise it wel / but oftymes
to rede it shal cause it wel to be vnderstande / And for them
that vnderstandeth it / it shall be ryght Ioyous playsant and
prouffitable
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Iran*, by ~ T . XT _
W. Caxton The feast of King Noble the Lion.1 5
June 1481. J u
l^oto tbe Igon ttpnge of alle bestis sent out bis
manDementis tfjat alle beestis sboloe come to bis feest
ano court capitulo prtmo
T was aboute the tyme of penthecoste or
whytsontyde/ that the wodes comynly be lusty
and gladsom / And the trees clad with leuys and
blossoms and the ground with herbesandllowris
swete smellyng and also the fowles and byrdes
svngen melodyously in theyr armonye/That
the lyon the noble kynge of all beestis wolde
in the holy dayes of thys feest holde on open
Court at stade / whyche he dyde to knowe ouer alle in his
lande / And commanded by strayte conmyssyons and
maundements that euery beest shold come thyder/in suche
wyse that alle the beestis grete and smale cam to the courte
sauf reynard the fox /for he knewe hymself fawty and gylty
in many thynges ayenst many beestis that thyder sholde
comen that he durste not auenture to goo thyder / whan the
kynge of alle beestis had assemblid alle his court / ther was
none of them alle / but that he had complayned sore on
Reynart the foxe*
Cbe first complaint mane Jsegrpm tbe toulf on
iRepnart capitulo ‘iy
IjSegrym the wulf wyth his lynage and frendes
' cam and stode to lore the kynge / And sayde hyc
and myghty prynce my lord the kynge I beseche
1 vow that thurgh your grete myght/ryght/and
mercy that ye wyl haue pyte on the grete trespas and the
vnresonable mysdedes that reynart the foxe hath don to me
and to my wyf that is to wete he is comen in to my hows
Digitized by v^ooQle
6 [The complaint of Courtois the Hound, w.caxton
June 1481.
ayenst the wylle of my wyf / And there he hath be pyssed my
chyldren where as they laye in suche wyse as they therof ben
woxen blynde / wherupon was a day sette / and was Iudged that
reygnart sholde come and haue excused hym hierof/and haue
sworen on the holy sayntes that he was not gylty therof /
And whan the book wyth the sayntes was brought forth / tho
had reygnart bythou[g]ht hym other wyse/And wente his
waye agayn in to his hole / as he had nought sette therby / And
dere kynge this knowen wel many of the bestes that now be
comen hyther to your court/And yet hath he trespaced to
me in many other thinges/he is not lyuyng that coude telle
alle that I now leue vntolde / But the shame and vyllonye that
he hath don to my wyf / that shal I neuer hyde ne suffre it
vnauengyd but that he shal make to me large amendes/
Cfje complapnt of Couttops tfjc bounce capitulo iij
ban thyse wordes were spoken so stode there a
lytyl hounde and was named courtoys/and com-
playned to the kynge/"how that in the colde wynter
;in the harde froste he had ben sore forwynterd /in
such wyse as he had kepte nomore mete than apuddyng/
w[h]yche puddyng reygnard the foxe had taken away from hym
C&o spaft tfjpbett tfje catte
yth this so cam Tybert the catte wyth an Irous
moed/and sprang in emonge them and sayde My
lord the kyng/I here hier that reygnart is sore
|complayned on / and hier is none but that he hath
to doo to clere hym self / that courtoys hier
complayneth ot that is passyd many yeres goon/how be it
that I complayne not / that pudyng was myne / ffor I hadde
wonne it by nyghte in a mylle/The myllar laye and slepe/yf
courtoys had ony parte hieron/that came by me to[o] /
Thenne spak panther/Thynke ye Tybert that it were good
that reynard sholde not be complayned on / he is a very murderer/
a rouer / and a theef / he loueth noman so wel / not our lord the
kyng here that he wel wold that he shuld lese good and
worshyp/so that he myght Wynne as moche as a legge of a
ynowh
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w ra cJ!on Grimbert the Badger speaks for Reynard.1 7
June 1481.
fat henne /1 shal telle yow what I sawe hym do yesterday to
Cuwaert the hare that hier standeth in the kynges pees and
saufgarde / he promysed to Cuwart and sayde he wold
teche hym his credo/and make hym a good chapelayn/he
made hym goo sytte bytwene his legges and sange and cryde
lowdeCredo. Credo.my wayelaye ther by therethatlherde this
songe/Tho wente I ner and fonde maister reynard that had
lefte that he fyrst redde and songe / and bygan to playe hi?
olde playe / ffor he had caught kywaert by the throte / and ha &
I not that tyme comen he sholde haue taken his lyf from hym
like as ye hiere may see on kywaert the hare the fress[h]e
wounde yet/ffor sothe my lord the kyng yf ye suffre this
vnpunyshyd and lete hym go quyte that hath thus broken
your peas /And wyl do no right after the sentence and
Iugement of your men/your Chyldren many yeris herafter
shal be myspreysed and blamed therfore/
Sykerly panther sayd Isegrym ye saye trouthe / hit were
good that right and Iustyse were don /for them that wolde
fayn lyue in peas /
!£)oto grpmbart tbc tmsse tfjc fores ousters sone
spack for repnart anti anstoerb to fore tbe
kpnge. capitulo. Mi).
■^^SJBho spack Grymbart the dasse/and was Reynarts
HcJ fcjjsuster sone with an angrey moed/Sir Isegrym that
BSais euyl sayd it is a comyn prouerbe An Enemyes
Ej^LlEg'mouth / saith seeld wel/what leye ye/and wyte ye
myn Erne Reynart/I wold that ye wolde a venture that who
of'yow tweyne had moste trespaced to other sholde hange
by the necke as a theef on a tree / But and yf he were as wel
in this court and as wel wyth the kynge as ye be / it shold not be
thought in hym / that it were ynowh / that ye shold come and
aske hym forgyuenes ye haue byten and nypte myn vncle wyth
your felle and sharp teeth many mo tymes than I can telle/
yet w r il I telle some poyntes that I wel knowe / knowe not
ye how ye mysdeled on the plays / whiche he threwe doun fro
the carre / whan ye folowed after fro ferre / And ye ete the
good plays allone/and gaf hym nomore than the grate or
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8
[Grimbert continues his speech.
Trans, by
W. Caxton
June 1481.
bones / whyche ye myght not ete your self / In lyke wyse dyde
ye to hym also of the fatte vlycche of bacon / whiche sauourd
so wel/that ye allone ete in your bely/and whan myn
Eme askyd his parte/tho answerd ye hym agayn in scorne/
Reynart fayr yonglyng I shal gladly gyue you your part /but
myn eme gate ne had nought/ne was not the better/Not -
withstandyng he had wonnen the flycche of bacon wyth grete
drede/ffor the man cam and threw hym in a sacke/that he
scarsely cam out wyth his lyf/Suche maner thynges hath
reynart many tymes suffred thurgh ysegrym.
ye lordes thynke ye that this is good / yet is ther
15$2jj more / he complayneth how that reynart myn eme
hath moche trespaced to hym by cause of his wyf /
Myn Eme hath leyn by her but that is wel seuen yer to
fore/er he wedded her/and yf reynart for loue and curtosye
dyde with her his wille/what was that/She was sone heled
therof/hierof by ryght shold be no complaynt were Isegrym
wyse. he shold haue lefte that he doth to hym self no worshyp
thus to sklaundre his wyf/ She playneth not / now maketh
kywaert the hare acomplaynt also / that thynketh me a
vyseuase / yf he rede ne lemed a ryght his lesson / sholde not
reynard his maister bete hym therfore /yf the scolers were not
beten ne smyten and reprised of their truantrye/they shold
neuer lerne/
Rf^HHIow complayneth Courtoys that he with payne had goten
H180I a P udd y n e * n w ynt er / at suche tyme as the coste is
USsJieuyl to fynde Therof hym had be better to haue holde
his pees/for he had stolen it / Male quesisti et male perdidisti
hit is ryght that it be euil loste / that is euil wonne who shal
blame Reynart / yf he haue taken fro a theef stolen good hit is
reson who that vnderstandeth the lawe and can discerne
the right / and that he be of hye burthe as myn Eme reynart
is whiche knoweth wel how he shal resseyue stolen good / yet
al had he courtoys hanged whan he fonde hym with the
menowr/he had not moche mysdon no trespaced / Sauf ayenst
the crowne/that he had don Iustyse wythoute leue wherfore
for the honour of the kynge he did it not / all hath he but lytyl
thanks/what skathed it hym that he is thus complayned on /
Myn Eme is a gentil and a trewe man he may suffre no
falshede/he doth nothyng but by his prestes counseyl And I
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w?oix»n Chanticleer’s complaint on Reynard.] g
June 1481.
saye yow syth that my lorde the kynge hath do proclamed his
pees he neuer thoughte to hurte ony man / ffor he eteth no
more than ones a day / he lyueth as a recluse / he chastiseth his
body and wereth a sherte of heer / hit is more than a yere that
he hath eten no flesshe / as I yesterday herd saye of them
that cam fro hym he hath lefte and geuen ouer his Castel
maleperduys / And hath bylded a cluse / theryn dwelleth he / and
hunteth nomore / ne desyreth no wynnynge but he lyueth by
almesse and taketh nothyng but suche as men gyue hym for
charyte and doth grete penance for his synnes/and his is
woxen moche pale and lene of prayeng and wakyng ffor he
wolde be fayn wyth god /
Thus as grymbert his erne stode and preched thise wordes/
so sawe they comen doun the hylle to hem chauntecler the
cock and brought on abiere a deed henne of whom reynart
had byten the heed of[f]/and that muste be shewed to the
kynge for to haue knowleche therof.
J£oto tfje Cocfte complapnetJ on tepnart capitulo .ti°.
® |Hauntecler cam forth and smote pyteously his
handes and his fetheris and on eche side of the
Ibyer wenten tweyne soroufui hennes that one was
) ailed cantart and that other goode henne Crayant
they were two the fayrest hennes that were bytwene holland
and arderne/ Thise hennes bare eche of them a brennygtapre
whiche was longe and strayte / Thise two hennes were coppens
susters/And they cryed so pitously / Alas and weleaway for
the deth of her dere suster coppen/Two yonge hennes bare
the byere which kakled so heuyly and wepte so lowde for the
deth of coppen their moder that it was ferre herde / thus cam
they to gydre to fore the kynge /
RSffBlnd chantecleer tho seyde / Mercyful lord/my lord the
KHmyj kynge pleseityow to here our complaynte/ And abhorren
EScalthe grete scathe that reynart hath don to me and my
children that hiere stonden / it was so that in the begynnyng of
appryl whan the weder is fayr/asthat I as hardy and prowde/
bycause of the grete lynage that I am comen of and also
hadde/flor I had viij fayr sones and seuen fayr doughters
whiche my wyf had hatched, and they were alle stronge
Digitized by t^ooQle
r ’ Trans, by
io [Chanticleer continues his complaint. W. Caxton
June 1481.
and fatte and wente in ayerde whiche was walled round
a boute / In whiche was a shadde where in were six grete
dogges whiche had to tore and plucked many a beestis skyn
in suche wyse as my chyldren were not aferd/On whom
Reynart the theef had grete enuye by cause they were so sure
that he cowde none gete of them / how wel oftymes hath this
fel theef goon rounde aboute this wal / and hath leyde for vs
in suche wyse that the dogges haue be sette on hym and haue
hunted hym away / And ones they leep on hym vpon the banke /
And that cost hym somwhat for his thefte/I saw that his
skyn smoked neuertheles he wente his waye / god amende it /
fflgKJOhus were we quyte of reynart a longe whyle / atte laste
IjgSalcam he in lyknes of an heremyte/and brought to me a
K^miettre for to rede sealed wyth the kynges seal / in whiche
stode wreton that the kynge had made peesoueral in his royame /
and that alle maner beestis and fowlles shold doo none harme
ner scathe to ony other / yet sayd he to me more / that he was
a cloysterer or a closyd recluse be comen / And that he
wolde receyue grete penance for his synnes/he shewd me
his slauyne and pylche and an heren sherte ther vnder / and
thenne sayd he / syr Chaunteclere after thys tyme be no more
aferd of me ne take no hede/ffor I now wil ete nomore
flesshe / lam forthon so olde / That I wolde fayn remembre
my sowle I will now go forth / for I haue yete to saye my
sexte / none / and myn euensonge/to god I bytake yow / Tho
wente reynart thens sayeng his Credo / and leyde hym vnder
an hawthorn/Thenne/was I glad and mery/and also toke
none hede/And wente to my chyldren and clucked hem to
gydre And wente wythout the wal for to walke wherof is
moche harme comen to vs / for reynart laye vnder a busshe
and cam krepyng bitwene vs and the yate / so that he ca[u]ght
one of my chyldren and leyd hym in his male/wherof whe
haue had grete harme / for syth he hath tasted of hym / ther
myght neuer hunter ne hounnde saue ne kepe hym from vs /
he hath wayted by nyghte and daye in suche wyse that he
hath stolen so many of my chyldren that of *xv. I haue but
foure / in suche wyse hath this theef forslongen them / And yet
yesterday was coppen my doughter that hier lyeth vpon the
byer with the houndes rescowed This complayne I to yow
gracious kynge/haue pyte on myn grete and vnresonable
damage and losse of my fayre chyldren /
Digitized by t^ooQle
Tran*. by
W. Caxton
Jnn* 1481.
Bruin the Bear sent to Reynard.]
11
$oto tfje fepng spacfe toucfjpng tins complaint
ca.
W:
H SIHenne spack the kynge/ Syre dasse here ye this
Jftwel of the recluse your Eme he hath fasted and
Hprayde that yf I lyue a yere he shal aby[d]e it /
531Nowe herke chauntecler / your playnt is ynough
your doughter that lyeth here dede/we wyl gyue to her the
dethes right we may kepe her no longer / we wil betake
her to god/we wylle syngen here vygylie/and brynge her
worshipfully on erthe/and thenne we wille speke wyth thise
lordes and take counseyl how we may do ryght and Iustyse of
thys grete murdre/and brynge this fals theef to the lawe /
Tho begonne they placebo domino/with the verses that to
longen whiche yf I shold saye/were me to longe/whan this
vigilye was don and the commendacion/she was leyde in
the pytte / and ther vpon was leyde a marble stone polyshed
as clere as ony glas and theron was hewen in grete letters
in this wyse coppe chanteklers doughter/whom Reynart
the fox hath byten lyeth hier vnder buryed / complayne \ 1
her ffor / she is shamefully comen to her deth /
after this the kynge sente ffor his lordes and wysest of
his counseyl for to take aduys/how this grete murdre and
trespaas shold be punysshyd on reynart the foxe / Ther was
concluded and apoynted for the beste/that reynart shold be
sent ffore and that he lefte not for ony cause/But he cam
in to the kynges court ffor to here wat shold be sayd to hym /
And that bruyn the bere shold do the message.
the kynge thought that alle this was good and saide to
brune the bere syr brune I wyl that ye doo this message /
but see wel to for your self/ ffor reynart is a shrewe/and
felle and knoweth so many wyles that he shal lye and
flatre/and shal thynke how he may begyle deceyue and
brynge yow to some mockerye /
tho sayd brune what good lord late it allone/deceyueth
me the foxe / so haue I ylle lerned my casus /1 trowe he shal
come to late to mocque me/Thus departed brune meryly
fro thens / but it is to drede that he cam not so meryly agayn /
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12
[Reynard welcomes Bruin.
Tran*:, by
W. Lax ton
June 1481.
boto brunne tbe beere teas speb of ©epnart tbe
fore/ capitulo .tnj°.
Ow is brune goon on his waye toward the foxe wyth
astowte moede / whiche supposed wel that the foxe
sholde not haue begyled hym / as he cam in a derke
wode in a forest were as reynard had a bypath whan
he was hunted / ther bysyde was an hie montayne and lande /
and there muste brune in the myddel goon ouer for to goo to
maleperduys / for reynart had many a dwellyng place/but the
castle of maleperduys was the beste and the fastest burgh
that he had/Ther laye he Inne whan he had nede and was
in ony drede or fere. Now whan bruyn was comen to male¬
perduys he fonde the yate faste shette / tho wente he to fore
the yate and satte vpon his taylle and called Reynart be ye
at home I am brownyng / the kynge hath sente me for yow that
ye sholde come to court / for to plete your caas / he hath sworn
there by his god / come ye not / or brynge I yow not with me
for t[o]abyde suche right and sentence as shal be there gyuen /
it shal coste you your lyf he wyl hange you / or sette you on
the ratte / reynart doo by my counseyl and come to the court /
I jeynart laye within the gate as he ofte was wonte to doo
[for the warmth of the sonne/whan reynart herd bruyn
_I tho wente he Inneward in to his hole/for maleperduys
was ful of hooles / hier one hool and there an other and y r onder
an other / narowe. crooked and longe wyth / many weyes to goo
out / whiche he opend and shette after that he had nede/whan
he had ony proye brought home / or that he wiste that ony
sought hym for hys mysdedes and trespaces / thenne he ran
and hydde hym fro his enemyes in to hys secrete chambres /
that they coude not fynde hym / by whiche he deceyuyd many
a beest that sought hym /and tho thought reynart in hym
self how he myght best brynge the beere in charge and nede /
and that he abode in worship /
N this thoughte reynart cam out and sayde bruyn erne
ye be welcome/I herde you wel to fore/but I was in
_myn eue[n]song therforehaue I the lenger taryed a lytyl/
dere erne he hath don to you no good seruyse and I can hym no
thank that hath sente you ouer this longe hylle/for I see that
ye be also wery that the swete renneth doun by your chekys J
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Trans, by T --
W. Ca ton Is IT THEN EARNEST THAT YE LOVE HONEY?] 13
June 1481.
it was no nede /1 had neuertheles comen to court to morowe
but I sorowe now the lasse / for your wyse counseyl shal wel
helpe me in the court / and coude the kyng fynde none lasse
messager but yow ffor to sende hyther / that is grete wonder /
ffor next the kynge ye be the mooste gentyl and richest of
leeuys and of lande /1 wolde wel that we were now at the
court but I fere me that I shal not conne wel goo thyder/
for I haue eten so moche new mete/ that me thynketh my bely
wylle breke or cleue asonder and by cause the mete was
nyewe /1 ete the more /
tho spack the bere lyef neue what mete haue ye eten that
maked yow so ful /
dere erne that I ete what myght it helpe yow that yf I
tolde you /I ete but symple mete a poure man is no lord that
may ye knowe erne by me / we poure folke must ete oftymes
suche as we gladly wolde not ete yf we had better / they were
grete hony combes which I muste nedes ete for hunger/ they
haue made my bely so grete / that I can nowher endure /
Bruyn tho spack anone / alas reynart what saye ye / sette ye
so lytyl by hony / me ought to preyse and loue it aboue alle
mete / lief reynart helpe me that I myght gete a deel of this
hony / and as longe as I lyue I shal be to you a tryew friende
and abyde by yow as ferre as ye helpe me that I may haue a
parte of this hony /
boto btupn ete tbe bong capituto. .Piij:
jB^pgj^jRuyn erne I had supposed that ye had iaped
so help me god reynart nay/I shold not gladly
thenne spacke the rede reynart is it thenne ernest that ye
loue so wel the hony/I shal do late you haue so moche
that ten of yow shold not ete it at one mele / myght I gete
therwith your friendship/
not we ten reyner neue sayd the bere how shold that be
had I alle the hony that is bytwene this and portyngale I
shold wel ete it allone*
reynard sayde* what saye ye Eme/hier by dwelleth an
husbondman named lantfert whiche hath so moche hony
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14 [Reynard & Bruin come to Lantfert’s yard, w. caxton
June 1481.
that ye shold not ete it in* vij. yere whiche ye shal haue
in your holde. yf ye wille be to me friendly and helpyng
ayenst myn enemyes in the kynges court /
thenne promysed bruyn the bere to hym. that yf he
myght haue his bely full* he wold truly be to hym to fore
alle other a faythful frende /
herof laughed reynart the shrewe and sayde / yf ye wolde
haue vij hamber barelis ful I shal wel gete them and helpe
you to haue them / These wordes plesyd the bere so wel and
made hym so moche to lawhe / that he coude not wel stande
Tho thought reynart /this is good luck I shal lede hym
thyder that he shal lawhe by mesure.
Reynard sayd thenne/this mater may not be longe taryed /
I muste payne my self for you / ye shal wel vnderstande the
very yonste and good wyl that I bere to you ward I knowe
none in al my lygnage that I nou wolde laboure fore thus
sore/
that thanked hym the bere and thought he taryed longe /
Now erne late vs goo a good paas and folowe ye me /1 shal
make you to haue as moche hony as ye may bere/the
foxe mente of goode strokes but the caytyf markyd not what
the foxe mente /and they wente so longe to gydre that they
cam vnto lantferts yerde / tho was sir bruyn mery /
I ow herke of lantfert is it true that men saye / so was
lantfert a stronge carpenter of grete tymbre / and had
brought that other day to fore in to his yerde a grete oke
whiche he had begonne to cleue And as men be woned he had
smeten two betels the rinone after that other in suche wyse
the oke was wyde open whereof reynart was glad / for he had
founde it right ashewisshed / And sayde to the bere all lawhyng/
see nou wel sharply to / in this tree is so moche hony that it is
without mesure / asaye yf ye can come therin and ete but lytil
for though the hony combes be swete and good yet beware
that ye ete not to[o] many, but take of them by measure.that
ye cacche no harme in your body* for swete erne I shold be
blasmed yf they dyde you ony harme.
what reynart cosyn sorowe ye not for me. wene ye that I
were a foie.
mesure is good in alle mete* reynart sayde* ye saye trouthe.
wherfore shold I sorowe* goo tothe[e]nde and Crepe theryn
Digitized by t^ooQle
w ra cJtin Bruin fast in the cleft of the tree.] 15
June 1481
bruyn the here hasted sore toward the hony. and trad in
wyth his two formest feet: and put his heed ouer his eeris
in to the clyft of the tree. And reynart sprang lyghtly and
brak out the betle of the tree. Tho helped the here nether
flateryng ne chydyng. he was fast shette in the tree thus
hath the neueu wyth deceyte brought his eme in pryson in
the tree in suche wyse as he coude not gete out wyth myght
ne wyth crafte / hede ne foote /
jPSpEBjhat prouffyteth bruyn the bere that he stronge and
wwlfflhardy is/that may not helpe them/he sawe wel that
plll| fflhe begyled was he began to howle and to braye / and
crutched wyth the hynder feet and made suche a noyse and
rumour that lantfert cam out hastely / and knewe nothyng what
this myght be / and brought in his hand a sharpe hoke / bruyn
the bere laye in the clyfte of the tree ingrete fere and drede / and
helde fast his heed and nyped both his fore feet/he wrange
he wrastled / and cryed / and all was for nought / he wiste not
how he myght gete out /
reynar[t] the foxe sawe fro ferre how that lantfert the
carpenter cam and tho spack reynart to the bere/is that
hony good how is it now/ete not to[o] moche it shold do you
harme/ye shold not thenne wel conne goo to the court whan
lantfert cometh yf ye haue wel eten he shal yeue you better
to drynke and thenne it shal not styke in your throte /
■SFHJffter thise wordes tho torned hym reynart toward his
castel and lantfert cam and fonde the bere fast taken in
m^W||the tree/thenne ranne he faste to his neyghbours and
sayde/come alle in to my yerde / ther is a beeretaken/the worde
anone sprange oneral in the thorpe/ther ne bleef nether man
ne wyf/but alle ranne theder as fast as they coude / eueryche
wyth his wepen / some wyth a staf/ some with a rake / some
with a brome / some with a stake of the hegghe and some wyth
a flayel/and the preest of the chirche had the staf of the
crosse / and the clerk brought a vane The prestis wyf Iulok
cam with her dystaf / she sat tho and spanne / Ther cam olde
wymen that for age had not one toeth in her heed /
now was bruyn the bere nygh moche sorowe/that he allone
muste stande ayenst them alle whan he herde alle this grete
noyse and crye / he wrastled and plucked so harde and so sore /
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16 [All the parish smite Bruin. \V\ Caxtoii
June 1481.
that he gate out his heed /but he lefte behynde all the skyne
and bothe his eeris / In suehe wyse th^t neuer man sawe fowller
ne lothyer beest/for the blode ran ouer his eyen/and or he
coude gete out his feet/he muste lete there his clavves or
nayles and this roughe hande / This market cam to hym euyl /
ffor he supposed neuer to haue goon / [h]is feet were so sore / and
he myght not see for the blode whiche ran so ouer his eyen /
p'flfJMiantfert cam to hym wyth the preest and forth with alle
Ifi KM1 parysshe / and began to smyte and stryke sore vpon
BaSsHIhis heed and visage he receyued there many a sore
stroke / euery man beware hierby. who hath harme and scathe /
euery man wil be ther at and put more to/That was wel seen
on the bere / for they were alle tiers and wroth on the here grete
and smal / ye[a] hughelyn wyth the croked lege* and ludolf with
the brode longe noose / they were booth wroth That one had an
leden malle* and that othera grete ledenwapper/ther wyth they
wappred and al for slyngred hym / syr bertolt with the longe
fyngers lantfert. and ottram the longe. thys dyde to the bere
more harme than al the other that one had a sharpe hoke / and
that other a croked staf wel leded on th[e]ende for to playe at
the balle/Baetkyn/ende aue abelquak my dame baue/and
the preest with his staf/and dame Iulok his wyf thise
wroughten to the bere so moche harme / that they wold fayn
haue brought hym fro his lyf to deth / they smote and stacke
hym al that they cowde /
bruyn the beere satte and syghed and groned / and muste take
suche as was gyuen to hym/but lantfert was the worthiest
of byrthe of them alle/and made moste noyse/for dame
pogge of chafporte was his moder/and his fader was Macob
the stoppelmaker/a moche stowte man there as he was
allone/bruyn receyued of hem many a caste of stones/Tofore
hem alle sprang forst lanteferts brother with a staf / and smote
the bere on the heed that he ne herde ne sawe/and there
with the bere sprange vp bytwene the bushe and the ryuer
emonge an heep of wyuis that he threwe a deel of hem in the
ryuer whiche was wyde and deep /
ther was the persons wyf one of them wherfor he was ful
of sorow whan he sawe his wyf lye in the water/hym lusted
no lenger to smyte the bere/but called dame Iuloke in the
water now euery man see to / Alle they that may helpe her / be
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Trans, by
w. Caxtun Bruin sore wounded, escapes by the river.] 17
June 1481. 1
they men or wymen/I gyue to hem alle pardon of her
penance and relece alle theyr synnes/alle they thenne lefte
bruyn the here lye /And dyde that the preest badde
han bruyn the bere sawe that they ranne alle from
hym and ranne to saue the wymen / tho sprange he in to
_|the water and swame alle that he coude/ Thenne made
the preest a grete showte and noyse and ran after the bere
wyth grete anger and said come and torne agayn thow false
theef/ The bere swame after the beste of the streme/and lete
them calle and crye / for he was glad that he was so escaped
from them/he cursed and banned the hony tree/and the foxe
also that had so betrayed hym / that he had cropen therin so
depe that he loste boothe his hood and his eeris / And so forth
he droof in the streem wel a ij or iij myle/Tho waxe he so
wery that he wente to lande for to sitte and reste hym / ffor he
was heuy/he groned and syghed/and the blode lepe ouer his
eyen/he drough his breth lyke as one sholde haue deyde/
Bow herke how the foxe dyde / er he cam fro lantferts
Jhows he had stolen a fatte henne and had leyde her in
_|his male And ranne hastely away by a by path were
he wende that noman should haue comen / he ranne toward the
Ryuer that he swette / he was so glad that he wist not whatto
do for Ioye / ffor he hoped that the bere had be dede / he sayde/
I haue now wel spedde for he that sholde moste haue hyndred
me in the court is now dede / and none shal wyte me therof/
may I not thenne by right/be wel glad/with thise wordes
the foxe loked to the ryuer ward and espyed where bruyn the
bere laye and rested hym / Tho was the foxe sorier and heuyer
then to fore was mery/and was as angry and sayde In
chydyng to lantfert / alas lantfert lewde fool god gyue hym a
shames deth that hath loste suche good venyson whiche is
good and fatte / and hath late hym goo whiche was taken to
his hande many aman wolde gladly haue eten of hym. he
hath loste ariche and fatte bere / Thus al chydyng he cam to
the ryuer / where hefonde the beere sore wounded / bebled / and
right seke/ whiche he myght thanke none better therof than
Reynart whiche spacke to the bere in skorne /
Chiere priestre / dieu vous garde wylle ye see the rede theef
Eng. Sen. Lib. No. 1 . 3
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18 [Bruin returns to Noble the King. w?K*t 2 n
June 1481.
sayde the here to hym self/the rybaud and the felle diere
here I se hym comen/
Thenne sayd the foxe/haue ye ought forgoten at lant-
ferts / haue ye also payd hym for the hony combes that ye
stale fro hym/yf ye haue not. it were agrete shame and not
honeste/I wyl rather be the messager my self for to goo
and paye hym / was the hony not/good/I knowe yet more of
the same prys. dere Erne telle me er I goo hens/ In to what
ordre wille ye goo. that we[a]re this newe hode/were ye
amonke or an abbot* he that shoef your crowne / hath
nyped of[f] your eeris / ye haue lost your toppe And don of[f]
your gloues /1 trowe veryly that ye wyl go synge complyn*
E Sjlle this herde bruyn the bere/and wexe alle angry and
sory for he rnyght not avenge hym / he lete the foxe saye
tiSlhis wylle And wyth grete payne suffred it. and sterte
agayn in the ryuer/and swam doun wyth the streem to that
other syde /
now muste he sorowe how that he sholde come to the court /
for he had loste his eeris / and the skynne wyth the clawes of
his forefeet / for though a man sholde haue slayn hym he coude
not go/And yet he muste nedes forth/but he wist not how
Now he[a]re how he dyde. he satte vpon his hammes/and
began to rutsele ouer his tayl / and whan he was so wery /
he wentled and tombled nyghe half a myle/this dyde he
with grete payne so longe tyl atte laste he cam to the courte.
And whan he was seen so comyng fro ferre / Some doubted
what it rnyght be that cam so wentelyng
The kynge atte laste knewe hym / and was not wel payd
and sayde This is bruyn the bere my frende / lord god who
hath wounded hym thus he is passyng reed on his heed, me
thynketh he is hurte vnto the deth where may he haue ben.
ther wyth is the bere come to fore the kynge and sayde /
Cfre complaint of tfje 6ere upon t&e fore’ cap° ir
I complayne to yow mercyful lorde syre kynge/
J |so as ye may see how that I am handled prayeng
you t[o]auenge it vpon reynart the felle beest* ffor I
]haue goten this in your seruyse. I haue loste bothe
my formest feet / my chekes and myn eeris by his false deceyte
and treson
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W. Caxton Tibert the Cat sent to Reynard.] 19
June 1481.
The kynge sayde how durst this fals theef Reyna[r]t doo
this /1 saye to yow bruyn and swere by my crowne /1 shal
so auenge you on hym / that ye shal conne me thanke /
he sente for alle the wyse beestis / and desired counseyl how
that he myght auenge this ouer grete wronge / that the foxe had
don/Thenne the counseyl concluded olde and yong/that he
shold be sente fore and dayed ernestly again for t[o]abyde
suche Iugement as shold there be gyuen on hym of alle his
trespaces And they thought that the catte tybert myght best
do this message yf he wolde / for he is right wyse/The kynge
thought this counceyl good /
$oto t&e fepnge sente another tpme tpbert tfje catte
for tbe fore, ano fcoto tpbert speooe toitb repnart tfje
fOre/ca° r°*
henne the kynge saide sir tybert/ye shal now goo
to reynart and saye to hym this seconde tyme that
he come to court vnto the plee for to answere /
for though he be felle to other beestis* he trusteth
you wel/and shal doo by your counseyl. and telle yf he come
not/he shal haue the thirde wamyng and be dayed and yf
he thenne come not / we shal procede by ryght ayenste hym
and alle hys lygnage wythout mercy /
Tybert spack/ My lord the kynge / they that this counseylde
you were not my frendes what shal I doo there/he wil not
for me neyther come ne abyde/I beseche you dere kynge
sende some other to hym/I am lytyl and feble/bruyn the
bere whiche was so grete and stronge / coude not brynge
hym/how shold I thenne take it on honde/
nay said the kynge sir tybert ye ben wyse and wel
lemed/Though ye be not grete/ther lyeth not on/many
do more wyth crafte and connyng/than with myght and
strengthe /
thenne said the catte / syth it muste nedes be don /1
muste thenne take it vpon me / god yeue grace that I may
wel achieue it/for my herte is heuy/and euil willed therto /
Tybert made hym / sone redy toward maleperduys / and he
saw fro ferre come fleyng one of seynt martyns byrdes/tho
cryde he lowde and saide al hayl/gentyl byrde/torne thy
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20
[Reynard welcomes Tibert.
Trans, by
\V. Caxti.n
June 1481.
wynges hetherward and flee on my right side/the byrde
flewh forth vpon a tree whiche stoode on the lift side of the
catte/tho was tybert woo/ffor he thought hit was a shrewd
token and a sygne of harme/for yf the birde had flowen on
his right side / he had ben mery and glad / but now he sorowed
that his Iourney shold torne to vnhappe/neuertheles he dyde
as many doo/and gaf to hym self better hope than his herte
sayde/he wente and ronne to maleperduys ward/and there
he fonde the foxe allone standynge to fore his hous /
E ybert saide / The riche god yeue you good euen reynart /
the kyng hath menaced yow / for to take your lyf from
yow / yf ye come not now wyth me to the court /
The foxe tho spack and said / Tibert my dere cosyn ye
be right wel come/I wolde wel truly that ye had moche
good lucke/what hurted the foxe to speke fayre/though he
sayd wel /his herte thoughte it not and that shal be seen/er
they departe /
reynart sayde wylle we this nyght be to gydre/I wyl
make you good chyere and to morow erly in the dawnyng
we wyl to gydre goo to the court / good neue late vs so
doo /1 haue none of my kyn / that I truste so moche to as
to yow/hier was bruyn the here the traytour he loked so
shrewdly on me / and me thoughte he was so stronge / that I
wolde not for a thousand marke haue goon with hym/but
cosyn I wil to morow erly goo with yow /
Tybert saide /it is beste that we now goo/for the mone
shyneth also light as it were daye /1 neuer sawe fayrer weder /
nay dere cosyn/suche myght mete vs by daye tyme/that
wold make vs good chiere/and by nyghtte parauenture myght
doo vs harme / it is suspecyous to [w]alke by nyghte. Therfore
a byde this nyght here by me
Tybert sayde/w[h]at sholde we ete/yf we abode here /
reynart sayde/here is but lytel to ete ye m aye wel haue
an hony combe good and swete/what saye ye/Tybert wyl ye
ony therof.
tybert answerd I sette nought therby haue ye nothyng
ellis yf ye gaf me agood fatte mows /1 shold be better plesyd /
a fatte mows said reynard / dere cosyn what saye ye / here by
dwelleth a preest and hath a barne by his hows ther in ben
so many myse / that a man shold not lede them a way vpon
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Trans, by
w.caxton Say me truth! Love ye well micePI 21
June 1481. J
a wayne /1 haue herd the preest many tymes complayne that
they dyde hym moche harme
O dere reyner lede me thyder for alle that I may doo for yow /
ye[a] tybert saye ye me trouthe / loue ye wel myes /
yf I loue hem fyel said the catte /1 loue myes better than
ony thyng that men gyue me* knowe ye not that myes
sauoure better than veneson /ye than flawnes or pasteyes wil
ye wel doo. so lede me theder where the myes ben* and thenne
shal ye wynne my loue. ye [a] al had ye slayn my fader moder
and alle my kyn.
Reynart sayd ye moke and Jape therwyth -
the catte saide so helpe me god I doo not.
Tybert said the foxe wiste I that veryly I wolde yet this
nyght make that ye shuld be ful of myes.
reynart quod he’ ful that were many,
tyberte ye I ape /
reynart quod he in trouth I doo not /yf I hadde a fatte
mows /1 wold not gyue it for a golden noble /
late vs goo thenne / tybert quod the foxe I wyl brynge yow
to the place / er I goo fro you /
reyner quod the foxe [or rather the cat] / vpon your sauf-
conduyt /1 wolde wel goo wyth you to monpelier/
late vs thenne goo said the foxe we tarye alto longe /
Thus wente they forth withoute lettyng to the place /
where as they wold be to the prestes barne whiche was
faste wallid aboute with a mude wal and the nyght to
fore the foxe had broken in and had stolen fro the preest
a good fatte henne/and the preest alle angry had sette a
gryn to fore the hool to auenge hym /for he wold fayn
haue take the foxe/this knewe wel the felle theef the foxe
And said sir tybert cosyn crepe in to this hool/and ye shal
not longe tarye but that ye shal catche myes by grete heepis /
herke how they pype. whan ye be ful / come agayn /1 wil
tarye here after you be fore this hole / we wil to morowe goo
to gyder to the court. Tybert why tarye ye thus longe come
of[f] / and so maye we retorne sone to my wyf. whiche wayteth
after vs / and shal make vs good chiere
Tybert saide/reynart cosyn is it thenne your counseyl that
I goo in to this hole. Thise prestes ben so wyly and shrewyssh /
I drede to take harme/
O ho tybert said the fox I sawe you neuer so sore aferde /
what eyleth yow /
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r , r , i rans. dt
22 [TlBERT FAST CAUGHT IN THE GIN. W. Caxton
June 1481.
the catte was ashamed and sprange in to the hoole. And
anon he was caught in the gryn by the necke er he wyste /
thus deceyuyd reynart his ghest and cosyn /
fcj^js tybert was waer of the grynne / he was a ferde and
IMfsprange forth/the grynne wente to/thenne he began
Ppfpljhe to wrawen/for he was almost ystranglyd/he called
he cryed and made a shrewd noyse /
reynart stode to fore the hool and herde al / and was wel a
payed and sayde/tybert loue ye wel myes/be they fatte and
good/knewe the preeste herof or mertynet / they be so gentyl
that they wolde brynge yow sawce/Tybert ye synge and
eten/is that the guyse of the court/lord god yf ysegrym
ware there by yow in suche reste as ye now be thenne shold
I be glad / for ofte he hath don me scathe and harme /
tybert coude not goo awaye / but he mawede and galped so
lowde/that martynet sprang vp/and/cryde lowde/god be
thanked my gryn hath taken the theef that hath stolen our
hennes / aryse vp we wil rewarde hym /
I yth these wordes aroose the preest in an euyl tyme and
waked alle them that were in the hows/and cryde wyth
a lowede vois / the foxe is / take
there leep[t] and ranne alle that there was[.] the preest
hym self ranne al moder naked / mertynet was the first that
cam to tybert / the preest toke to locken his wyf an offryng
candel and bad her lyght it atte fyer/and he smote tybert
with a grete staf / Ther receyuid tybert many a grete stroke
ouer alle his body / mertynet was so angry that he smote the
catte an eye out / the naked preest lyfte vp and shold haue gyuen
a grete stroke to tybert/but tybert that sawe that he muste
deye sprange bytwene the prestes legges wyth his clawes and
with his teeth that he raught out his ryght colyon or balock
stone / that leep becam yl to the preest and to his grete shame.
I his thynge fyl doun vpon the floer / whan dame Iulocke
knewe that / she sware by her faders sowle /that she
wolde it had coste her alle th[e]offryng of a hole yere/
that the preest had not had that harme hurte^ind shame / and
that it had not happed and said / in the deueles name was the
grynne there scLte / see mertynet lyef sone / this is of thy faders
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w ra "^xwn Tibert returns to Noble the King.] 21
June 1481. J
hartleys/This is a grete shame and to me a grete hurte/for
though he be heled herof yet he is but a loste man to me and
also shal neuer conne doo that swete plave and game /
The foxe stode wythoute to fore the hole and herde alle thyse
wordes/and lawhed so sore that he vnnethe coude stonde/he
spack thus al softly / dame Iulock be al stylle / and your
grete sorowe synke / Al hath the preest loste one of his stones
it shal not hyndre hym he shal doo wyth you wel ynowh ther
is in the world many a chapel/in whiche is rongen but one
belle / thus scorned and mocked the foxe / the prestes wyf dam
iulock that was ful of sorowe /
The preest fyl doun a swoune / they toke hym vp and brought
hym agayn to bedde. tho wente the foxe agayn in to his
borugh ward / and lefte tybert the catte in grete drede and
Ieopardye / for the foxe wiste none other but that the catte
was nygh deed/but whan tybert the catte sawe them al besy
aboute the preest tho began he to byte and gnawe the grenne
in the myddel a sondre / and sprange out of the hool and wente
rollyng and wentlyng towards the kyngs court or he cam
theder it was fayr day and the sonne began to ryse/And he
cam to the court as a poure wyght / he had caught harme atte
prestes hows by the helpe and counseyl of the foxe/his body
was al to beten / and blynde on the one eye / whan the kynge
wyste this / that tybert was thus arayed / he was sore angry
and menaced reynart/the theef sore/and anone gadred his
counseyl to wyte what they wold a[d]uyse hym / how he myght
brynge the foxe to the lawe and how he sholde be fette
|ho spack sir grymbart whiche was the foxes suster sone
and saide ye lordes / thowgh my erne were twyes so bad
l and shrewessh / yet is ther remedye ynough / late hym be
don to/as to a free man whan he shal be Iuged/he muste be
warned the thirde tyme for al and yf he come not thanne/he
is thenne gylty in alle the trespaces that ben leyd ayenst
hym and his or complayned on /
grymbart who wolde ye that sholde gooanddaye hym to come/
who wil auenture for hym his eeris/hys eye or his lyf whiche
is so fel a beest /1 trowe ther is none here so moche a fool /
grymbert spack / so helpe me god I am so moche a fool /
that I wil do this message myself to reynart/yf ye wille
commande me/
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24 [Grimbert the Badger is sent to Reynard, w. caxton
June 1481.
$oto grimbert t&e Basse brougfrte t&e fore to tbe
la toe to fore t&e bpnge/capitulo .rj°.
!0vv go forth gymbart and see wel to fore yow
jreynart is so felle and fals and so subtyl/that ye
nede wel to loke aboute yow / and to beware of hym /
_Grimbert said he shold see welto/
thus wente grymbart to maleperduys ward/and when he
cam theder/he fonde reynart the foxe at home/and dame
ermelyn his wyf laye by her whelpis in a derke corner/
Tho spack grymberd and salewed his erne and his aunte /
and saide to reynart eme beware that your absence hurte yow
not in suche maters as be leyde and complayned on yow but
yf ye thynke it good / it is hye tyme that ye come wyth me
to the court/The wythholdyng you fro it can doo yow no
good there is moche thynge complayned ouer you / and
this is the thirde warnyng / and I telle you for trouth yf
ye abyde to morow al day / ther may no mercy helpe you
ye shal see that wyth in thre dayes that your hows shal be
byseged al aboute/and ther shal be made to fore it galowes
and racke / I saie you truly ye shal not thenne escape
neyther with wyf ne wyth chylde/ The kynge shal take alle
your liuys fro yow / thei fore it is beste that ye goo wyth me to
the court / your subtyl wyse counseyl shal parauenture auaylle
you/ther ben gretter auentures falle er this for it may happe
ye shal goo quyte of all the complayntes that ben complayned
on you/and alle your enemyes shal abyde in the shame/ye
haue oftymes don more and gretter thingis than this.
B’©|l E >’ nart ^ ie ^ oxe answer d/ye saye soth/I trowe it is
n Sfe jbeste that I goo wyth you for therlacketh my counseyl
EjSSparauenture the kynge shal be mercyful to me yf I maye
come to speke wyth hym / and see hym vnder his eyen /
though I had don moche more harme/the court may not
stonde without me/that shal the kynge wel vnderstande’
Though some be so felle to me ward/yet it goth not to the
herte/alle the counseyl shal conclude moche by me/where
grete courtes ben gadred of kynges or of grete lordes / where as
nedeth subtyl counseyl / ther muste reynart fynde/the subtyl
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Trans, by
W. L'axti n
June 1481.
Reynard takes leave of Ermilin.] 25
meanes / they maye vvel speke and saye theyr aduys but the
myneisbeste/andthat gothto fore alle other/ in the courte ben
many that haue svvoren to doo me the werst they can / and that
causeth me a parte to be heuy in my herte / ffor many maye
doo more than one allone / that shal hurte me / neuertheles
neuew it is better I goo wyth yow to the court and answere
for my self/ than to sette me/my wyf/and my chyldren in a
venture for to be loste / aryse vp late vs goo hens / he is ouer
myghty for me /1 muste doo as he wylle /1 can not bettre it I
shal take it paciently and suffre it.
BfirS^jEynert saide to his wyf dame ermelyn I betake yow
U ch y ldren y e see we ^ *° ^ em / and specyally to
lySLSi reynkin my ynogest sone / He belyketh me so wel I hope
he shal folowe my stappes And ther is rosel apassyng fayr
theef/I loue hem as vvel as ony may loue his chyldren /Yf
god gyue me grace / that I maye escape I shal whan I come
agayn thanke yow wyth fair vvordes Thus toke Reynart leue
of his wyf /
A gods / how sorouful a bode ermelyn wyth her smale
whelpis / ffor the vytayller and he that sorowed for
malperduys was goon his way/And the hows not pourueyed
ne vitaylled.
repnaru $&roef bpm capitulo. rij.
M l Han reynart and grymbert had goon a whyle to
Igydre/tho saide reynart /dere cosyn now am I in
grete fere / for I goo in drede and ieopardye of my
Ilyf/I haue so moche repentaunce for my synnes
that I wil shryue me dere cosyn to yow/here is none other
preest to gete yf I were shryuen of my synnes / my soule shold
be the clerer /
grymbert ansuerde / Eem wil ye shryue you / thenne muste
ye promyse firste to leue your steelyng and rouynge
reynart saide that wiste he wel / now herke dere cosyn
what I shal saye/Confiteor tibi pater of alle the mysdedes
that I haue don/Aud gladly wil receyue penance for them/
Grymbert sayde what saye ye / wylle ye shryue yow/ thenne
saye it in englissh that I may vnderstande. yow
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26 [Reynard shrives himself to Grimbert.
Trans, by
W. Caxton
June 1481.
reynart sayde/I haue trespaced ayenst alle the beestis
that lyue in especyal ayenst bruyn the bere myn Eem whom I
made his crowne al blody / And taughte tybert the catte to
catche myes for I made her leepe in a grenne wher she was al
to beten / also I haue trespaced gretly ayenst chanteclere with
his children / for I haue made hym quyte of a grete dele of hem
S he kynge is not goon al quyte /1 haue sklandred hym
and thequene manytymes/that they shal neuerbe cleer
therof yet haue I begyled ysegrym the wulf ofter than I
can telle wel I called hym erne / but that was to deceyue hym /
he is nothyng of my kyn /1 made hym a monke / [at] Eelmare/
where I my self also becam one / And that was to his hurte and
noprouffyte/I madebynde his feettothe belle rope/the ryngyng
of the belle thought hym so good that he wolde leme to rynge
wherof he had shame / ffor he range so sore that alle the folke in
the strete were aferd therof and meruaylled what myght be on
the belle /And ranne thyder to fore he had comen to axe the
religyon / wherfore he was beten almost to the deth / after this
I taught hym to catche fyssh where he receyuid many a stroke /
also I ledde hym to the richest prestes hows that was in
vermedos / This preest had aspynde wherin henge many a
good flitche of bacon / wherin many a tyme I was wonte to fyl
my bely / in this spynde I had made an hole / in whiche I made
ysegrym to crepe / There fonde he tubbes with beef and many
goed flytches of bacon wherof he ete so moche withoute
mesure / that he myght not come out at the hole where he wente
in/his bely was so grete and ful of the mete/and whan he
entred his bely was smal /1 wente in to the village and made
there a grete showte and noyse / yett herke what I dyde thenne
I ranne to the preest wher he satte at the table and ete / And
hadde to fore hym as fatte capone as a man myght fynde,/
that capone caught 1 and ranne my weye therwith al that I
myghte / the preest cryed out and said / take and slee the foxe /
I trowe that neuer man sawe more wonder / the foxe cometh in
my hows and taketh my capoone fro my table / where sawe
euer man an hardyer theef/ and as me thought he toke his
table knyf and casted it at me/but he touched me not I ranne
away / he shoof the table from hym / and folewed me cryeng
kylle and slee hym /1 to goo and they after and many moo
cam after which alle thought to hurte me/
Digitized by t^ooQle
Trans, by
W. Caxton
June 1481.
Reynard continues his confession.] 27
I Ranne so longe that I cam where as isegrym was /
and there I lete falle the capoone / for it was to[o]
heuy for me / and ayenst my wille I lefte it there /
and thenne I sprange thurgh an hole where as I woldebe / and
as the preest toke vp the capone. he espyed isegrym and
cryde smyte doun here frendes here is the theef the wulf/see
wel to that he escape vs not* they ranne alle to gydre wyth
stokkes and staues and made a grete noyse that alle the
neyghbours camen oute. and gauen hym many a shrewde
stroke/and threwe at hym grete stones/in suche wyse that
he fyl doun as he had been deed / They slepid hym and drewe
hym ouer stones and ouer blockes wythout the village and
threwe hym in to a dyche and there he laye al the nyght/I
wote neuer how he cam thens/syth I haue goten of hym /for
as moche as I made hym to fylle his bely / that he sware that
he wolde be myn helpe an hole yere.
I ho ledde I hym to a place where I tolde hym ther were
vij' hennes and a cocke whiche satte on a perche and
were moche fatte / And ther stode a faldore by / and we
clymmed ther vp /1 sayde to hym yf he wolde bileue me /and
that he wolde crepe in to the dore / he sholde fynde many fatte
hennes/ Isegrym wente al lawhyng to the dore ward and crope
a lityl in / and tasted here and there / and at laste he sayde to
me reynarde ye borde and iape with me / for what I seche I
fynde not thenne said I / eme yf ye wyl fynde crepe forther
in / he that wil wynne / he muste laboure and auenture / They
that were wonte to sytte there /1 haue them a waye thus I
made hym to seche ferther in /and shooue him forth so
ferre / that he fylle doun vpon the floer for the perche was
narow/and he fill so grete a falle/that they sprange vp alle
that slepte/and they that laye nexte the fyre cryden that the
valdore was open and somthyng was falle and they wiste
not w[h]at it myght be/
jhey roose vp and lyghte a candel / and whan they sawe
hym they smeton beten and wounded hym to the deth /1
_haue broughte hym thus in many a iepardye / moo than
I gan now rekene/I sholde fynde many moo/yf I me wel
bythoughte/whiche I shal telle you here after/Also I haue
bydryuen wyth dame erswynde his wyf /1 wolde I had not don
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28 [Grimbert assoils Reynard. w?ci*ton
June 1481.
it/I am sory for it/hit is to her grete shame /anchthat me
repenteth /
grymbert saide / Erne I vnderstande you not /
he sayde I haue trespaced with his wyf/
ye shryue you / as though ye helde somwhat behynde /1
wote not what ye mene ne where ye haue lerned this langage/
Ach dere erne it were grete shame yf I shold saye it
oppenly as it happed /1 haue leyen by myn aunte /1 am your
erne I shold angre you yf I spak vylanye of wymmen / neueu
now haue I tolde yow alle that I can thynke on / sette me
penaunce / and assoylle me / ffor I haue grete repentaunce /
H umbert was subtyl and wyse/he brake a rodde of[f J a
tree and saide / erne now shal ye smyte your self thryes
with this rodde on your body /And thenne leye itdoun
vpon the grounde/and sprynge thre tymes ther ouer without
bowyng of your legges and wythout stomblyng/ and thenne
shul ye take it vp and kysse it frendly in token of mekenes
and obedience of your penance that I gaf yow/herw r ith be ye
quyte of alle synnes that ye haue don to this day for I forgeue
it yow al /
the foxe was glad /
tho sayd grymbert to his erne/Erne see now forthon/that
ye doo good werkis / rede your psalmes / goo to chirche / taste
and kepe your halydayes/and gyue your allmesse / and leue
your synful and yl lyf / your thefte and your treson and so
maye ye come to mercy /
the foxe promysed that he wold so doo / and thenne wente
they bothe to gydre to the court ward /
S Lytelbesyde the waye as they wente stode a cloyster of
back nonnes. where many ghees/hennes and capones
wente withoute the walles/and as they wente talkynge
the foxe brought grymberte out of the right waye thyder and
wythout the walles by the barne went the polayle/The foxe
espyed them and saw a fatte yong capone whiche wente
allone fro his felaws/and leep and caught hym that the
fethers flevvh aboute his eeris but the capone escaped/
grymbert sayde what erne cursyd man what wil ye doo / wille
ye for one of thise poletes falle agayn in alle your synnes of
whiche ye haue shryuen yow / ye ought sore repente you /
Digitized by
Google
W. Caxton Reynard ever looks back to the pullets.] 29
June 1481.
reynart answerd / truly cosyn I had al forgoten / praye god
that he forgeue it me for I wil neuer do so more /
thenne torned they agayn ouer alityl brydge/yet the foxe
alvvay loked after the polaylle / he coude not refrayne hym self/
that whiche cleuid by the bone / myght not out of the flesshe/
though he shold be hanged/he coude not lete thelokyng after
the polayll as fer as he myght see them /
Grymbert sawe his maner and sayde / fowle false deceyuour/
how goo your eyen so after the poleyl /
The foxe sayde/cosyn ye mysdoo to saye to me ony suche
wordes/ye brynge me out of my deuocion and prayers/late
me saye apater noster fibre alle the sowles of polaylle and
ghes that I haue betrayed / and ofte wyth falsheed stolen from
thyse holly nonnes /
Grymbert was not wel a payd but the foxe had euer his eyen
toward the polayl/til atte laste they cam in the waye agayn.
And thenne torned they to the courte warde/how sore quaked
tho reynard whan they aproched the court / ffor he wiste wel
that he had for to answere to many afowle feet and theft that
he had doon /
&oto t&e fore cam to tfre court /ano fjoto fje ercuseo
fern to fore tbe fegnge/ capttulo .rm°
T the first whan it was knowen / in the court that
reynart the foxe and grymbaert his cosyn were comen
.to the court / Ther was none so poure nor so feble
of kynne and frendes / but that he made hym redy for
to complayne on reynart the foxe/
reynart loked as he had not ben aferd / and helde hym
better/than he was for he wente forth proudly with his
neueu thurgh the hyest street of the courte/right as he
had ben the kynges sone and as he had not trespaced to
ony man the value of an heer/and wente in the mydel of
the place stondyng to fore noble the kynge and sayde / God
gyue yow grete honour and worship / Ther was neuer kyng/
that euer had a trewer seruant/than I haue ben to your
good grace and yet am* Neuertheles dere lorde I knowe
wel that ther ben many in this courte that wolde destroye
me yf yewold byleue them / but nay god thanke yow/
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30 [Reynard excuses himself to the Kino. w?"£*wn
June 1481.
hit is not fyttyng to youre crowne to byleue thise false
deceyuars and lyars lyghtly/To god mote it be complayned/
how that thise false lyars and flaterers now adayes in the
lordes courtes ben moste herde and byleuyd / the shrewes and
false deceyuers ben borne vp for to doo to good men alle the
harme and scath they maye / Our lorde god shal ones rewarde
them their hyre /
the kynge sayde/pees reynard false theef and traytour /
how wel can ye brynge forth fayr talis / And alle shalle not
helpe yow a strawe / wene ye wyth suche flateryng wordes to
be my frende/ye haue so ofte seruyd me soo as ye now shal
wel knowe/The pees that I haue comanded and sworn/that
haue ye wel holden / haue ye /
chauntecler coude no lenger be stylle but cryde alas what
haue /1 by this pees loste /
be stylle chaunteclere holde your mouth late me answere
this fowle theef /
H How shrewd felle theef saide the kynge / thou saist that
thow louest me wel’ that hast thou shewd wel on my
messagers these poure felaws / Tibert the cat and bruyn
the bere/whiche yet ben al blody whiche chyde not ne saye
not moche / but that shal this day coste the[e] thy lyf / In nomine
pater criste. filij.
sayd the foxe dere lord and myghty kyng’ yf bruyns
crowne be blody / what is that to me / when he ete hony
at lantferts hows in the vyllage and dyde hym hurte and
scathe /there was he beten therfore yf he had willyd he
is so stronge of lymmes / he myght wel haue be auengid er
he sprang in to the water/Tho cam tybert the catte whom I
receyued frendly / yf he wente out without my counseyl for to
stele myes to a prestes hows / and the preest dyde hym harme
sholde I aby[d]e that thenne myght I saye I were not happy/
not so my liege lorde/ye may doo what ye wille/thowh my
mater be cleer and good, ye may siede me / or roste / hange. or
make me blynde. I may not escape yow. we stonde alle
vnder your correccion. ye be myghty and stronge. I am
feble/and my helpe is but smal/yf ye put me to thedeth. hit
were a smal vengeance /
whiles they thus spack. sprange vp bellyn the rame
and his ewe dame olewey and saide my lord the kynge
Digitized by
Google
i rails, ny
w.caxton Reynard is adjudged to death.] 31
June 1481.
here oure complaynt/bruyn the here stode vp wyth al his
lygnage and his felaws. Tibert the catte Isegrym the wulf.
kywart the hare/and panther the boore ’the camel and brunel
the ghoos the kyde and ghoot /boudewyn the asse. borre the
bulle/hamel the oxe* and the wesel. Chantecler the cock,
pertelot wyth alle theyr children ‘alle thise madegrete rumour
and noyse. And cam forth openly to fore their lorde the
kynge. And made that the foxe was taken and arested /
]£>oto the fore teas atestiD ano 3lugeo to Oetfr
capitulo riitr
Ere vpon was a parlament / and they desired that
reynart sholde ben deed and what somme euer they
sayden ayenst the foxe/he answerde to eche to
|them / neuer herde man of suche beestis /suche
playntis of wyse counseyl / and subtyl Inuencions and on
that other syde / the foxe made his excuse so wel and formably
theron that they that herde it wondred therof/ they that
herde and sawe it / may telle hit forth for trouthe /1 shal
shorte the mater and telle yow forth of the foxe/The kynge
and the counseyl herd the witnessis of the complayntes of
reynarts mysdedes / hit went with hem as it ofte doth the
feblest hath the worst /They gafe sentence and Iudged that
the foxe shoulde be dede and hanged by the necke / tho lyfte
not he to pleye alle his flateryng wordes / and deceytes coud
not helpe hym/The Iugement was gyuen and that muste be
don/grymbert his neueu / and many of his lignage myght not
fynde in their hertes to see hym dye but token leue soroufully/
and romed the court.
H he kynge bithoughte hym and marked how many a
yonglyng departed from thens al wepyng / whiche were
nyghe of hiskynne / and sayde to hym self / hier behoueth
other counseyl herto/Though reynart be a shrewe / ther be
many good of his lignage /
thybertthe catte sayde/sir bruyn and sir Isegrym/how be
ye thus slowe. it is almost euen / hier ben many busshes and
hedges, yf he escaped from vs. and were delyuerd out of this
paryl he is so subtyl and so wyly and can so many deceytes
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rT ^ Trans, by
32 l Reynard is led to the gallows. w.caxton
June 1481.
that he shold neuer be taken agayn / shal we hange hym how
stonde ye al thus er the galewis can be made redy it shal be
nyght/
Isegrym bethought hym tho and seyde/hier by is a gybet
or galewis / And wyth that worde he sighed /
and the catte espyed that and sayde/Isegrym ye be aferd/
ys it ayenst your wylle / thynke ye not that he hym self wente.
and laboured that bothe your brethern were hanged / were ye
good and wyse ye sholde thanke hym /and ye sholde not
therwith so longe tarye /
footo t&e fore teas letrtie to t&egaletots/cap 0 w
segrym balked and sayde/ye make moche a doo sir
tyberte hadde we an halter which were mete for
his necke and strong ynough / we shold sone make
an ende/
reynert the foxe whiche longe had not spoken/saide to
Isegrym shorte my payne / Tyberte hath a stronge corde
whiche caughte hym in the prestes hous / whan he bote of[f]
the prestes genytoirs/he can clyme wel and is swyft late
hym bere vp/the lyne / Isegrym and bruyn thys becometh
yow wel that ye thus doo to yourneuew/I am sory that I
lyue thus longe/haste you ye be sette therto/it is euyl doo
that ye tarye thus longe/goo to fore bruyn and lede me
Isegrym folowe fast, and see wel to and be ware that reynart
go not away.
tho sayd bruyn it is the best counseil that I euer yet
herde / that reynart there seith
Isegrym commanded anon and badde his kyn and frendes.
that they sholde see to reynart that he escaped not. ffor he is
so wyly and fals. They helden hym by the feet, by the berde.
and so kepte hym that he escaped not from hem /
The foxe herde alle thyse wordes / whiche touchid hym
nygh / yet spak he and sayde / Och dere erne / me thynketh ye
payne yourself sore / forto doo me hurte and scathe / yf I durste
I wolde pay you of mercy / thaugh my hurte and sorow is
playsant to you /1 wote wel yf myn aunte your wyf bethought
her wel of olde ferners‘ she wolde not suffre that /1 shold
haue ony harme/butnow I am he/that nowe yewille doo on
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J
W. Caxton They prepare to hang Reynard.] 33
June 1481.
me what it shal plese yow / ye bruyn and thibert / god gyue you
shames deth but ye doo to me your werst /1 wote wherto I
shal /1 may deye but ones I wolde that I were dede al redy I
sawe my fader deye he had so[ojne donne/
Isegrym sayde late vs goo/fforye curse vs bi cause we
lengthe the tyme/euyl mote he fare yf we abyde ony lenger /
he wente forth wyth grete enuye on that one side and
bruyn stoode on the other syde / and so lede they hym forth to
the galowes warde/Tybert ranne with a good wil to fore/
and bare the corde and his throte was y et sore of the grynne /
and his croppe dyde hym woo of the stryke that he was take
in that happed by the counseil of the foxe / and that thought
he now to quyte /
I ybert ysegrym and bruyn wente hastely wyth reinert
to the place / there as the felons ben wonte to be put to
deth/Nobel the kynge and the quene/and alle that
were in the court folowed after for to seetheende of reynart/
the foxe was in grete drede yf hym mys [s] happed / and bethought
hym ofte/how he myghte saue hym fro the deth/And tho
thre[e] that so sore desireden hys deth how he myght deceyue
them / and brynge them to shame / and how he myght brynge
the kynge wyth lesyngis ffor to holde wyth hym ayenst hem /
This was alle that he studyed / how he myght putte away his
sorowe wyth wylys / And thought / thus though the kynge and
many one be vpon me angry / it is no wonder for I haue wel
deseruid it / neuertheles I hope for to be yet hir best frende /
And yet shal I neuer do them good/how strong that the
kynge be / and how wyse that his counseil be /yf I may brouke
my wordes /1 knowe so many an inuencion /1 shal come to
myn aboue / as fer as they wolde comen to the galewes /
ho saide ysegrym / sir bruyn thynke now on your rede
crowne whiche by reynarts mene ye caughte we haue
now the tyme that we may wel rewarde hym / Tybert
clyme vp hastyly and bynde the corde faste to the lynde / and
make a rydynge knotte or a strope / ye be the lyghtyst/ye shal
this day see your wylle of hym’ Bruyn see wel to that he escape
not. and holde faste. I will helpe that the ladder be sette
vp/that he may goo vpwart theron.
bruyn said. do. I shal helpe hym wel
Eng. Sen. Lib. No. 1 . 4
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r Trans, by
34 [Reynard makes an open confession, w.caxton
L June 1481.
The foxe sayde now may my herte be wel heuy for grete
drede* ffor I see the deth to fore myn eyen. and I may not
escape* my lorde the kynge and dere quene and forth alle
ye that here stande. er I departe fro this worlde I pray
you of a bo[o]ne. that I may to fore you alle make my
confession openly and telle my defaultes also clerly that my
sowle be not a-combred / and also that noman here after/bere
no blame for my thefte ne for my treson my deth shal be to
me the esyer / and praye ye alle to god that he haue mercy on
my sowle.
$ 0 to t&e fore mate openly bis confession to
fore tfje kynge ant to fore al them that toolt Jbere
it cap 0 rtu°
BSSKille they that stoden there had pyte whan reynart
0saide tho wordis and said it was / but a lytyl requeste
H- vf tke k y n S e w °lde graunte it hym/ and they prayde
g^^^|the kynge to graunte it hym f
The kynge gaf hym leue/
reynart was wel glad and hoped that it myght falle better/
And said thus / now helpe spiritus domini / for I see hier
noman but I haue trespaced vnto / Neuertheles yet was I
vnto the tyme that I was wened fro the tete/one the best
chylde that coude ouwher be founden /1 wente tho and pleyde
wyth the lambes by cause I herde hem gladly blete /1 was so
longe wyth hem that at the laste I bote one / there lerned I fyrst
to lapen of the bloode hit sauourd wel / me thought it right
good And after I began to taste of the flessh/therof I was
lycourous / so that after that I wente to the gheet in to the
wode/there herde I the kyddes blete and I slewe of them
tweyne/I began to wexe hardy after I slew hennes/polayl
and ghees / where euer I fonde hem. Thus worden my teeth
al blody after this I wexe so felle and so wroth/That what
somme euer I founde that I myght ouer /1 slowe alle / Ther
aftercam I by Isegrym now in the wynter/ where he hydde
hym vnder a tree. And rekened to me that / he was myn erne
whenne I herde hym thenne rekene allyance we becomen
felaws whiche I may wel repente/we promysed eche toother
Digitized by t^ooQle
Trans, by
w.caxton Seven wains of gold and silver !1 w
June 1481. J
to be trewe and to vse good felawship / and began to wandre
to gyder/he stal the grete thynges and I the smalle and all
was comyn bytwene vs/yet he made it so that he had the
beste dele I gate not halfe my parte/whan that ysegrym gate
a calf/a ramme or a weder thenne grimmed he/and was
angry on me and droof me fro hym / and helde my part and
his to[o] / so good is he.
ErarclEt this was of the leste/but whan it so lacked that we
lift Ml toke an oxe or a cowe / th enne cam therto his wyf wyth.
iPleSfll vii. children so/that vnto me myght vnnethe come one
of the smallest rybbes / and yet had they eten alle the flessh
therof / ther with all muste I be content not for that I had so
grete nede. ffor I haue so grette scatte and good of syluer and
of gold that seuen waynes shold not conne carye it away/
whan the kynge herde hym speke Of this grete good and
richesse he brenned in the desyre and couetyse therof and
sayde reynart where is the rychesse becomen/telle me that*
the foxe saide my lord I shal telle yow/the rychesse was
stolen/and had it not bestolen/it shold haue cost yow/your
lyf and [you] shold haue ben murdred whiche god forbede and
shold haue ben the gretest hurte of the worlde/
whan the quene herde that she was sore aferde and cryde
lowde/alas and weleaway reynart what say ye /I coniure
yow by the longe waye that youre soule shal goo / that ye telle
vs openly the trouthe herof as moche as ye knowe of this
grete murdre that sholde haue be doon on my lorde / that we
alle may here it
now herkene how the foxe shal flatre the kynge and quene/
and shal wynne bothe their good willes and loues And shal
hyndre them that laboure for hisdeth/he shal vnbynde his
packe and lye and by flaterye and fayr wordes shal brvnge
forth so his maters/that it shal be supposed for trouthe/
N a sorouful contenance spack the foxe to the quene I
am in suche caas now that I muste nedes deye / and
_Jhadde ye me not so sore coniured/I wil not Ieoparde
my sowle / and yf I so dyde I shold goo therfore in to the payne
of helle/I wil saye nothyng but that I wil make it good/for
pytously he shold haue ben murthred of his owen folke.
neuertheles they that were most pryncypal in this feat, were
Digitized by t^ooQle
36 [Reynard’s false tale of the conspiracy, w. caxton
June 1481.
of my next kynne* whom gladly I wold not bewraye. yf the
sorow were not of the helle.
The kynge was heuy of herte and saide / reynart saiste thou
to me the trouthe.
ye said the foxe. see ye not how it standeth with me. wene
ye that I wil dampne my sowle. what shold it auaylle me yf
I now saide other wise than trouthe. my deth is so nyghe*
ther may nether prayer ne good helpe me Tho trembled the
foxe by dyssymlyyng as he had ben a ferde
The quene had pyte on hym. And prayde the kyng to haue
mercy on hym in eschewyng of more harme/and that he
sholde doo the peple holde their peas and gyue the foxe
Audience, and here what he shold saye /
Tho commanded the kynge openly that eche of them
shold be stylle / and suffre the foxe to saye vnberisped what
that he wolde.
thenne saide the foxe/be ye now alle stylle. syth it is the
kynges wille. and I shal telle you openly this treson. And
therin I wil spare noman that I knowe gylty.
©oto tbe fore brought them in baunger/tbat toolbe
fjauc brought bpm to betb. anD boto be gate tbe grace
of tbe fepng. capitulo .rtoij 0 :
Ow herkene how the foxe began, in the begynnyng he
appeled grymbert his dere cosyn. whiche euer had
holpen hym in his nede / he dyde so bycause his wordes
sholde be the better byleued. and that he forthon
myght the better lye on his enemyes / thus began he firste
and saide.
my lorde my fader had founden kyng ermeryks tresour
doluen in a pytte. and whan he had thys grete good, he was so
prowde and orguillous that he had alle other beestis in despyte
whiche to fore had been his felaws he made tybert the catte
to goo in to that wylde lande of ardenne to bruyn the bere for
to do to hym homage, and bad hym saye yf he wolde be kynge
that he shold come in to flaundres/bruyn the bere was glad
hierof/ffor he had longe desired it/And wente forth in to
flaundres where my fader receyued hym right frendly/anone
Digitized by t^ooQle
W. Caxton The feigned plot to make Bruin King .1 37
June 1481.
he sente for the wyse grymbert myn neuewe / And for ysegrym
the wulfe/and for tybert the catte/Tho these fyue camen
bytwene gaunt and the thorpe callyd yfte / there they helden
their counseyl an hole derke nyght longe/what wyth the
deuels helpe and craft and for my faders richesse they con¬
cluded / and swore there the kyngys deth / now herkene and
here this wonder the foure sworen vpon ysegryms crowne / that
they sholde make bruyn a kynge and a lorde / And brynge hym
in the stole at akon and sette the crowne on his heed / and
yf there were ony of the kynges frendes or lignage / that wolde
be contrarye or ayenst this/hym sholde my fader wyth his
good and tresourfordryue and take from hym his myght and
power /
mmr happed so that on a morowtyde erly that grymbert
pfi jSXmy neuew was of wyne almost dronke / that he tolde it
||c£§§j3)to dame sloepcade his wif in counseyl/and badde her
kepe it secrete/but she anone forgate it / and saide it forth in
confession to my wyf / vpon and heth where they bothe wenten
a pylgremage/but she muste firste swere by her trouthe and
by the holy thre kynges of coleyne that for loue ne for hate
she sholde neuer telle it forth but kepe it secrete but she
helde it not / and kepte it no lenger secrete but tyl she cam
to me /and she thenne tolde to me alle that she herde/but I
muste kepe it in secrete / and she tolde me so many tokenys/
that I felte wel it was trouthe and for drede and fere myn heer
stode right vp / and my herte becam as heuy as leed / and as
colde as Ise/I thought by this a lyknesse whiche hier a fore
tyme byfylle to the frosshis / whiche were free / and complayned
that they had none lorde/ne were not bydwongen/for a
comynte without agouuernour was not go[o]d / and they cryden
to god with a lowde voys / that he wolde ordeyne one that
myght rewle them/this was al that they desired/god herde
theyr requeste / for it was resonable and sente to them a
storke / whiche ete and swolowed them in as many as be
coude fynde/he was alway to hem vnmercyful/tho com¬
playned they theyr hurte/but thenne it was to[o] late / they that
were to fore free and were a ferde of no body/ben now bonde
and muste obeye to strengthe theyr kynge / hyer fore ye
riche and poure I sorowed that it myght happen vs in lyke
wyse/
Digitized by t^ooQle
38 [How Reynard said he robbed his father. w ra ti^un
June 1481.
Hus my lord the kyng I haue had sorowe for yow
wherof ye can me but lytyl thanke /1 knowe bruyn the
bere for suche a shrewe and rauener / wherfor I
thoughteyf he were kynge we shold be alle destroyed and loste/
I knowe our souerain lord the kyng of so hye byrthe / so myghty
so benyngne and mercyful/that I thought truly it had ben an
euyl chaunge for to haue a foule stynkngye theef and to
refuse a noble myghty stately lyon / ffor the bere hath more
madde folye in his vnthrifty heed and al his auncestris/than
ony other hath/thus had I in myn herte many a sorowe/and
thought alway how I myght breke and fordoo my faders fals
counseyl whiche of a chorle and a traytour and worse than a
theef wolde make a lorde and a kynge / alway I prayd god that
he wolde kepe our kyng in worship and good helthe and
graunte hym long lyf / but I thought wel yf my fader helde
his tresour/he shold with his fals felaws wel fynde the
waye that the kyng shold be deposed and sette a syde /
I was sore bethought how I myght beste wyte where my
faders good laye/I a wayted at al tymes as nygh as I
coude / in wodes in bushes in feeldis / where my fader leyde his
eyen/were it by nyghte or by daye/colde or weet I was
alway by hym to espye and knowe where his tresour was
leyde /
I N a tyme I laye down al plat on the grounde/and sawe
myfadercomerennyngout of an hole / Noweherke what
I sawe hym doo / whan he cam out of the hole / he loked
fast a boute yf ony body had seen hym / And whan he coude
nowher none see / he stopped the hole with sande and made hit
euen and playn lyke to the other grounde by/he knewe not
that I sawe it / and where his footspore stood / there stiyked
he with his tayl and made it smothe with his mouth that
noman shold espye it / that lemed I there of my fals fadre
and many subtylitees that I to fore knewe nothyng of/
thenne departed he thens and ran to the village warde for to
doo his thyngis / and I forgate not but sprange and lepe to the
hole ward / and how wel that he had supposed that he had
made al faste I was not so moche a fool but that I fonde the
hole wel / and cratched and scraped with my feet the sande
out of the hole/and crepte therin/there fonde I the moste
Digitized by t^ooQle
wTcaa«on ReyNARD*S LIE THAT HIS FATHER HANGED IIIMSELF.l
June 1481.
plente of siluer and of golde that euer I sawe/hier is none so
olde that euer so moche sawe on one heep in alle his lyf/Tho
toke I ermelyne my wyf to helpe / and we ne rested nyght ne
day to here and carye a waye with grete labour and payne
this riche tresour in to another place that laye for vs better
vnder an hawe in a depe hole / in the mene whyle that myn
husewyf and I thus labouryd my fader was with them that
wolde betraye the kynge/now may ye here what they dede/
bruyn the bere and ysegrym the wulf sente alle the londe
a boute/yf ony man wolde take wages /that they shold come
to bruyn / and he wolde paye them their souldye or wagis to
fore, my fader ranne alle ouer the londe and bare the lettres.
he wist lytil that he was robbed of his tresour. ye [a] though he
myght haue wonnen al the world, he had not conne fynde a
peny therof.
IPSFjSBjhan my fader hadde ben oueral in the lande bytwene the
K%VW elue anc * somme * And hadde goten many a souldyour
ilJiffil that shold the next somer haue comen to helpe bruyn.
tho cam he agayn to the bere and his felowis. and tolde them
in how grete a venture he had be to fore the borughes in the
londe of saxone / and how the hunters dayly ryden and
hunted with houndes after hym in suche wise that he vnnethis
escaped with his lyf/whan he had tolde this to thise foure
false traytours/thenne shewde he them lettres that plesyd
moche to bruyn there in were wreton xij’ C* [ 1200 ] of ysegryms
lignage by name withoute the beres / the foxes / the cattes and
the dassen/alle thise had sworn that wyth the first messager
that shold come for them they shold be redy and come for to
helpe the bere/yf they had their wages a moneth to fore/
This aspyed I/I thanke god/after thise wordes my fader
wente to the hole where his tresour had leyn and wolde loke
vpon it / tho began he a grete sorowe / that he soughte he fonde
nothyng / he fonde his hole broken and his tresour born
away / there dede he that I may wel sorowe and bewaylle / for
grete anger and sorowe he wente and hynge hym self/thus
abode the treson of bruyn by my subtylte after / Now see myn
Infortune/thise traytours ysegrym and bruyn/ben now most
preuy of counseyl aboute the kynge / and sytte by hym on the
hye bouche/And I poure reynart haue no thanke ne reward/
I haue buryed myn owen fader by cause the kynge sholde
Digitized by t^ooQle
40 [Reynard’s tale beguiles the King & Queen.
haue his lyf/my lorde saide the foxe/where ben they that so
wolde doo/that is to destroye them self for to kepe yow /
[K||P|hekynge and the queene hoped to Wynne the tresourand
KfiSS w yth oute counceyl toke to them reynart and prayde
|iK#jSQlh vm that he wold do so wel as to telle them were this
tresourwas/
reynart saide how shold I telle the kynge or them that
wolde hange me / for loue of the traytours and murderars
whiche by her flaterye wolde fayne brynge me to deth / shold I
telle to them where my good is / thenne were I out of my wytte/
The quene tho spak nay reynart the kynge shal lete you
haue your lyf / and shal al to gydre forgyue you / and ye shal be
frohens forth wyse and true to my lorde.
the foxe answerd to the quene. dere lady yf the kynge wil
beleue me and that he wil pardone and forgyue me alle my
olde trespaces ther was neuer kynge so riche as I shal make
hym for the tresour that I shal doo hym haue / is right costely
and may not be nombred /
The kynge saide ach dame, wille ye beleue the foxe. sauf
your reuerence he is borne to robbe/stele and to lye/this
cleuid to his bones and can not be had out of the flessh /
the quene saide / nay my lorde ye may now well byleue hym/
though he were to fore felle/he is now chaunged otherwise
than he was ye haue wel herde that he hath appechid his
fader and the dasse his neuew/whiche he might wel haue
leyde on other bestes/yf he wold haue ben false / felle / and
a lyar /
The kynge saide dame wille ye thenne haue it soo/and
thynke ye it best to be don / though I supposed it sholde hurte
me /I wille take alle thise trespaces of reynart vpon me/and
bileue his wordes / But I swere by my crowne / yf he euer here
after mysdoo and trespace / that shal he dere aby[d]e and
alle his lignage vnto the. ix. degree/
The foxe loked on the kyng stoundmele and was glad in his
herte / and saide my lorde /1 were not wyse / yf I sholde saye
thynge that were not trewe
The kynge toke vp a straw fro the ground / And pardoned
and forgaf the foxe alle the mysdedes and trespaces of his
fader and of hym also /
yf the foxe was tho mery and glad it was no wonder/ffor
Digitized by CjOOQle
W. Caxton The King forgives Reynard his crimes.] 41
June 1481.
he was quyte of his deth and was alle free and franke of alle
his enemyes /
H He foxe saide my lord the kynge and noble lady the
quene god rewarde yow / thys grete worship that ye do
to me/I shal thynke and also thanke you for hit/in
suche wise that ye shal be the richest kynge of the world / ffor
ther is none lyuyng vnther the sonne / that I vouchesauf better
my tresour on / than on yow bothe /
Thenne toke the foxe vp a straw and profred it to the kyng/
and saide my moste dere lord plese it yow to receyue hiere the
rye he tresour whiche kynge ermeryk hadde/for I gyue it
vnto you wyth a fre wylle / and knowleche it openly /
The kynge receyuid the straw and threwe it meryly fro hym
with a Ioyous visage/And thanked moche the foxe/
The foxe laughed in hym self.
The kynge thenne herkened after the counseyl of the foxe.
And alle that ther were / were at his wylle /
I y lorde sade he / herkene and marke wel my wordes / in the
west side of flaundres ther standeth a woode and is named
hulsterlo/And a water that is called krekenpyt lyeth
therby / This is so grete a wyldemesse / that ofte in an hole yere
man ner wyf cometh therin / sauf they that wil/and they that
willenot eschewe it/There lyeth this tresour hydde/vnderstande
wel that the place is called krekenpit / for I aduyse you for the
leste hurte/ that ye and my lady goo bothe thyder / ffor I knowe
none so trewe that I durste on your behalue truste wherfore
goo your self / And whan ye come to krekenpyt ye shal fynde
there two birchen trees standyng alther next the pytte / my
lorde to tho byrehen trees shal ye goo / there lyeth the tresour
vnther doluen / There muste ye scrape and dygge a way a
lytyl the mosse on the one side / Ther shalle ye fynde many a
Iewel of golde and syluer. and there shal ye fynde the crowne
whiche kynge Ermeryk ware in his dayes that sholde bruyn
the bere haue worn yf his wyl had gon forth ye shal see many a
costly Iewel with riche stones sette in golde werk whiche coste
many a thousand marke / My lorde the kynge whan ye now
haue alle this good / how ofte shal ye saye in your herte and
thynke / O how true art thou reynart the foxe. that with thy
subtyl wytte daluyst and hyddest here this grete tresour/god
gyue the[e] good happe and welfare where euer thou bee/
Digitized by t^ooQle
4« [Kywert the Hare knows the Kreken pit. w. Caxton
June 1481.
jS9H||He kynge sayde / sir reynart ye muste come and helpe
KBRIvs to dygge vp this tresour/I knowe/not the way/I
IjEyKpholde neuer conne fynde it /1 haue herde ofte named /
parys/london akon and coleyn/As me thynketh this tresour
lyeth /right as ye mocked and Iaped / for ye name kryekenpyt /
that is afayned name/
these wordes were not good to the foxe / and he sayd wyth
an angry mode/and dissymyled and saide/ye my lord the
kynge / ye be also nyghe that as fro rome to maye / wene ye
that I wille lede yow to flomme iordyn’/Nay I shal brynge
you out of wenyng and shewe it you by good wytnes /
he called lowde kywart the hare / come here to fore the
kynge The bestes sawe alle thyder ward and wondred what
the kynge wold / the foxe sayde to the hare / kywart ar ye a
colde/how tremble ye and quake so /be not a ferd/and telle
my lorde the kynge here the trouthe/And that I charge you
by the fayth and trouthe that ye owe hym and to my lady
the quene of suche thyng. as I shal demaunde of you /
Kywaert saide I shal saye the trouthe though I shold lose
my necke therfore /1 shal not lye ye haue charged me so
sore / yf I knowe it /
Thenne saye / knowe ye not where krieken pyt standeth /
is that in your mynde/
the hare saide /1 knewe that wel. xij. yer a goon / wher that
stondeth/why aske ye that. It stondeth in awoode named
hulsterlo vpon a warande in the wyldernesse /1 haue suffred
there moche sorowe for hunger and for colde /ye[a] more than
I can telle / Pater symonet the friese was woned to make
there false money/wherwyth he bare hym self out and al
his felawship / but that was to fore er I had felawship wyth
ryn the hounde/whyche made me escape many a daunger/
as he coude wel telle yf he were here /and that I neuer
In my dayes trespaced ayenst the kynge other wyse than I
oughte to doo with right /
reynart sayd to hym go agayn to yonder felawship here ye
kyward / my lorde the kynge desyreth nomore to knowe of
yow /
the hare retorned and wente agayn to the place he cam fro.
The foxe sayde my lord the kynge is it trewe that I saide/
ye reynart said the kynge / ffor gyue it me/I dyde euyl
Digitized by t^ooQle
W. (Jaxton Reynard will go to Rome for pardon .1 43
June 1481.
that I beleuid you not/Now reynart frende fynde the waye
that ye goo wyth vs to the place and pytte / where the tresour
lyeth /
the foxe saide it is a wonder thyng wene ye that I wolde
not fayne goo with yow / yf it were so wyth me that I myght
goo wyth yow / in suche wise that it no shame were vnto your
lordshyp/I wold goo but nay it may not bee/herkene what I
shal saye and muste nedes thaugh it be to me vylonye and
shame/whan Isegrym the wulf in the deuels name wente in
to religion and become a monke shorn in the ordre/tho the
prouende of sixe monkes was not suffyeient to hym / and had
not ynough to ete he thenne playned and waylled so sore / that
I had pyte on hym/for he becam slowe and seke/and by
cause he was of my kynne I gaf hym counceyl to renne
away and so he dyde / wherfore I stonde a cursed and am in
the popes banne and sentence I wil to morow bytymes as the
sonne riseth take my waye to rome for to be assoyled and
take pardon and fro rome I wil ouer the see in to the holy
lande and wil neuer retorne agayn til I haue doon so moche
good that I may with worship goo wyth yow/hyt were grete
repref to you my lord the kyng/in what londe that I
accompanyed you that men shold saye ye reysed and
accompanyed your self with a cursyd and persone agrauate /
The kynge sayde sith that ye stande a cursyd in the censures
of the chirche yf I wente wyth yow / men sholde arette
vilonye vnto my crowne / I shal thenne take kywaert or
somme other to goo with me to kryekenpytte / and I counseylle
you reynart that ye put you your self out of this curse /
my lord quod the foxe / therfore wylle I goo to rome as
hastely as I may /1 shall not reste by nyght ner day til I
bee assoylled/
reynart said the kynge / me thynketh ye ben torned in to a
good waye/god gyue you grace t[o]accomplyssh wel your
desyre /
H ssone as this spekyng was don / noble the kyng wente and
stode vpon an hygh stage of stone / And commanded
sylence to alle the bestes/and that they shulde sytte
doun in a rynge rounde vpon the grasse eueriche in his place
after his estate and byrthe/reynart the foxe stode by the
quene/whom he ought wel to loue /
Digitized by t^ooQle
44 [Bruin and Isbgrim are arrested.
Trans, by
W. Caxton
June 1481.
Thenne said the kynge / here ye alle that be poure
and riche yong and olde that stondeth here / reynart one
of the heed offycers of my hows had don so euyl whiche
this daye shold haue ben hanged/hath now in this courte
don so moche / that I and my wyf the quene haue promysed
to hym our grace and frendshyp / The quene hath prayde
moche / for hym / in so moche that I haue made pees wyth
hym /And I gyue to hym his lyf and membre/frely agayn/
and I comande you vpon your lyf/that ye doo worship to/
reynart his wyf and to his chyldren / where someuer ye
mete hem by day or night / and I wil also here nomoo
complayntes of reynard / yf he hath hier to fore mysdon and
trespaced/he wil nomore mysdo ne trespace/but now bettre
hym / he wylle to morowe/erly goo to the pope for pardone
and foryeuenes of alle hys synnes and forth ouer the see to
the holy lande/and he wil not come agayn til he brynge
pardon of alle his synnes /
This tale herde tyselyn the rauen/and leep to ysegrym/to
bruyn/and to tybert there as they were / and saide ye caytyfs/
howgo[e]th it now /ye vnhappy folke what do ye here / reynard
the foxe is now asquyer and a courtyer and right grete and
myghty in the court / The kynge hath skylled hym quyte of
alle his brokes and forgyuen hym all his trespaces and
mysdedes / And ye be alle betrayed and apechyd/
ysegrym saide how may this be /1 trowe tyselyn that ye lye
I do not certaynly saide the rauen /
Tho wente the wulf and the bere to the kynge Tybert the
catte was in grete sorowe he was so sore a ferde / that for to
haue the foxes frendship / he wold wel forgyue reyner the losse
of his one eye that he loste in the prestes hows/he was so
woo / he wist not what to doo / he wolde wel that he neuer had
seen the foxe/
£oto tfje toulf anD tbc bere toere arestpb bp tbe
labour of repnart tbe fore capitulo .rufij 6 .
H^PJSSSegn m cam proudly ouer the felde to fore the kynge/
M^W^Iand he thanked the quene / and spack wyth afelle
ItPi K*wi moe d ylle wordes on the foxe/in suche wise that
IpB^sJ'the kynge herde it/and was wroth and made the
wulf and the bere anon to be arestyd/ye sawe neuer wood
Digitized by t^ooQle
wToixwn Reynard has Bruin’s scalp for a scrip.] 45
June 1481.
dogges do/more harme/than was don to them they were
bothe fast bounden so sore that alle that nyght / they myght
not stere hande ne foot/They myght scarsely rore ne meue
ony Ioynte / Now here how the foxe forth dyde / he hated hem /
he laboured so to the quene that he gate leue for to haue as
moche of the beres skyn vpon his ridge as a foote longe and
a foot brode for to make hym therof a scryppe / thenne was
the foxe redy yf he had foure stronge shoon/now here how
he dyde for to gete these shoon /
he said to the quene / madame I am youre pylgrym / here is
myn erne sir Isegrym that hath .iiij. stronge shoon whiche
were good for me/yf he wolde late me haue two of them I
wolde on the waye besyly thynke on your sowle/ffor it is
ryght that a pylgrym shold alway thynke and praye for them
that doo him good/Thus maye ye doo your sowle good yf
ye will. And also yf ye myght gete of myn aunte dame
eerswyn also two of her shoon to gyue me/she may wel doo
it/ffor she gooth but lytil out/but abydeth alway at home/
thenne sayde the quene / reynard yow behoueth wel suche
shoes / ye may not be wythout them / they shal be good
for you to kepe your feet hool for to passe with them many
a sharpe montayn and stony roches/ye can fynde no better
shoes for you/than suche as Isegrym and his wyf haue
and were / they be good and stronge / though it sholde touche
their lyf eche of them shal gyue you two shoes for to
accomplissh wyth your hye pilgremage/
£>oto psegtpm ano bis topf erestopn muste ouffre
pet 0fjois to tie plucfceo of / 3 n 0 poto tepnarti Upoe
on tpe 0&O20 for to goo to tome toptp/capitulo rijr.
Hus hath this false pylgrym goten fro Isegrym ij
shooes fro his feet /whiche were haled of the clawes
to the senewis ye sawe neuer foule that men rosted
laye so stylle/as Isegrym dyde/whan his shoes
were haled of/he styred not/and yet his feet bledde/thenne
whan Isegrym was vnshoed/Tho muste dame eerswyn his
wyf lye doun in the grasse wyth an heuy chere/And she
loste ther her hynder shoes /
Digitized by t^ooQle
46 [He gets two hoofs of Isegrim, & Erswynd.
June 1481.
Tho was the foxe glad and saide to his aunte in scorne / My
dere aunte how moche sorow haue ye suffred for my sake/
whiche me sore repenteth / sauf this/herof I am glad ffor ye
be thelyeuest of alle my kyn / Therefore I wyl gladly were
your shoen/ye shal be partener of my pylgremage/and dele
of the pardon that I shal with your shoen fecche ouer the see/
dame erswyne was so woo that she vnnethe myghte speke/
Neuertheles this she saide / A[h] reynart that ye now al thus
haue your wyl /1 pray god to wreke it /
ysegrym and his felaw the bere heiden their pees and wheren
al stylle/they were euyl at ease / ffor they were/bounden and
sore wounded had tybert the catte haue ben there/he shold
also somwhat haue suffred/in suche wyse/as he sholde not
[haue] escaped thens wythout hurte and shame*
H He next day whan the sonne aroos reynard thenne dyde
grece his shoes whiche he had of ysegrym and erswyn
his wyf / and dyd hem on andbonde hem to his feet / and
wente to the kynge and to the quene and said to hem with a
glad chere / Noble lord and lady god gyue you good morow and
I desire of your grace that I may haue male and staff blessyd
as belongeth to a pilgrym
Thenne the kynge anone / sent for bellyn the ramme/and
whan he cam he saide / sir bellyn ye shal do masse to fore
reynart/for he shal goo on pylgrymage / and gyue to hym
male and staf /
the ram answerd agayn and said/my lord I dare not do
that/ffor he hath said that he is in the popes curse/
The kynge said / what therof / mayster gelys hath said to vs /
yf a man had doo as many synnes as al the world / and he
wold tho synnes forsake / shryue hem and fesseyue penance/
and do by the prestes counseyl/god wil forgyue them and be
mercyful vnto hym now wil reynard goo ouer the see in to the
holy lande and make hym clere of al his synnes /
Thenne ansuerd bellyn to the kynge I wil not doo litil ne
moche herin/but yf ye saue me harmles in the spirituel
court byfore the bysshopprendelor and to fore his archedeken
loosuynde / and to for sir rapiamus his offycyal /
The kynge began to wexe wroth and saide /1 shal not bydde
you so moche in half a yere /1 had leuer hange yow than I
shold so moche praye you for it /
Digitized by t^ooQle
W. Caxton Belun does mass before Reynard.] 47
June 1481.
whan the rame sawe that the kynge was angry/he was so
sore aferd that he quoke for fere / and wente to the awter and
sange in his bookes and radde suche as hym thought good
ouer reynart / whiche lytyl sette therby/sauf that he wold
haue the worship therof
|!^STB||jhan bellyn the ramme had alle sayd his seruyse
KYfm deuoutly/thenne he hynge on the foxes necke/a male
E«iylcouerd wyth the skynne of bruyn the bere / and a lytil
palster therby. tho was reynart redy toward his Iourney. tho
loked he toward the kynge as he had ben sorowful to departe
and fayned as he had wepte. right as he hadde yamerde in
his herte* but yf he had ony sorow it was bycause al the
other that were there were not in the same plyght as the wulf
and bere were brought in by hym. neuertheles he stood and
prayd them alle to praye for hym. lyke as he wold praye
for them the foxe thought that he taryed longe and wold
fayn haue departed for he knewe hym self gylty /
the kynge saide reynart I am sory ye be so hasty / and wil
no lenger tarye /
nay my lord / it is tyme / for me ought not spare to doo
wel /1 pray you to gyue me leue to departe I muste doo my
pylgremage/
the kynge sayd/god be wyth yow/and commanded alle
them of the court to go and conueyne reynart on his way
sauf the wulf and the bere/whyche fast laye bounden/ther
was none that durst be sory therfore/and yf ye had seen
reynart how personably he wente wyth hys male and palster
on his sholder and the shoes on his feet / ye shold haue
laughed/he wente and shewde hym outeward wysely / But he
laughed in his herte that alle they brought hym forth/whiche
had a lytyl to fore been with, hym so wrooth / And also the
kynge whiche so moche hated hym /he had made hym suche
a fool that he brought hym to his owne entente he was
a pylgrym of deux aas.
|Y lord the kyng sayd the foxe I pray you to retome
agayn I wil not that ye goo ony ferther with me. ye
_|myght haue harme therby. ye haue there two morderars
arestyd/yf they escape you. ye myght be hurt by them y
pray god kepe you fro mysauenture* wyth these wordes he
Digitized by t^ooQle
o r tx l rnns. by
48 [Reynard sets out on ms pilgrimage. w.caxtJn
June 1481.
stode vp. on his afterfeet. And prayde alle the beestys grete
and smal that wolde be parteners of his pardon that they
shold praye for hym /
They sayde that they alle wolde remembre hym/
Thenne departed he fro the kynge so heuyly that many of
them ermed/
Thenne said he to kyward the hare/and to bellyn th[e]
ramme meryly/dere frendes shal we now departe/Ye wil
and god will accompanye me ferther / ye two made me
neuer angry / ye be good for to walke wyth / courtoys /
frendly and not complayned on of ony beeste ye be of good
condicions / and goostly of your lyuyng/ye lyue bothe as I
dyde/whan I was a recluse/yf ye haue leeuis and gras[s] ye be
plesyd/ye retche not of brede/of flesshe/ne suche maner
mete
with suche flateryng wordes hath reynard thise two
flatred / That they wente wyth hym tyl they camen to fore
his hows/maleperduys/
l£>oto fcptoart tbe bate toas siapn bp tbe fore/cap° .rr°
Han the foxe was come to fore the yate of his hows
he sayde to bellyn the ramme/cosyn ye shal abide
here withoute/I and kywart wille goo in /ffor I wille
praye kywart to helpe me to take my leue of
ermelyn my wyf/and to conforte her and my chyldren /
bellyn sayde I praye hym to comforte them wel/
wyth suche flateryng wordes brought he the hare in to his
hole in an euyl hour/There fonde they dame ermelyn lyeng
on the grounde with her yonglyngis/whiche had sorowed
moche ffor drede of reynarts deth / but whan she sawe hym
come she was glad / but whan she sawe his male and palster /
and espyed his shoes/she meruailled and sayd dere reynerd
how haue ye spedd/
he sayd I was arestid in the court / But the kynge let me
gon /1 muste goo a pilgremage / Bruyn the bere and vsegrym
thew ulf they be plegge for me. I thanke the kynge / he hath
gyuen to vs kywart hier / ffor to doo with hym what we wyl /
The kynge saide hym self that kywart was the first that on vs
complayned / And by the fayth that I owe yow I am right
wroth on kywart/
Digitized by t^ooQle
wicL^n Kywert the Hare slain dy Reynard.1 40
June 1481. J
whan kywart herde thise wordes he was sore aferde/He
wold haue fledde/but he myghtnot/fforthe foxe stode bytwene
hym and the yate/And he caught hym by the necke/Tho
cryed the hare helpe bellyn helpe/Where be ye This pilgryme
sleeth me /but that crye was sone doon/for the foxe had
anon byten his throte a two /
Tho sayd he late vs go ete this good fatte hare /the yonge
whelpes cam also/Thus helde they a great feste/ffor kywart
had a good fatte body/ermelyn ete the flessh and dranke the
blood / she thanked ofte the kynge that he had made them so
meiy/The foxe saide ete as moche as ye maye/he wil paye
for it / yf we will feche it.
R^SSlHe sayd reynart I trowe ye mocke / telle me the
KwjJfl trouthe how ye be departed thens/
HgjSg) dame I haue so flaterid the kynge and the quene/
that I suppose the frendship bytwene vs shal be right
thynne whan he shal knowe of this / he shal be angry/
and hastely seke me for to hange me by myne necke /
Therfore late vs departe and stele secretly a way in somme
other foreste/ Where we may lyue wythoute fere and drede/
and there that we may lyue vij yere and more and [they]
fynde vs not /there is plente of good mete of partrychs/
wododekkis and moche other wilde fowle/dame and yf ye
wil come with me thyder/ther ben swete welles and fayr and
clere rennyng brokes / lord god how swete eyer is there / There
may we be in pees and ease and lyue in grete welthe/ffor the
kynge hath lete me gon by cause I tolde hym that ther
was grete tresour in krekenpyt / but there shal he fynde
nothyng though he sought euer / This shal sore angre hym
whan he knoweth that he is thus deceyuid what trowe ye
how many a grete lesynge muste I lye/er I coude escape
from hym / It was harde that I escaped out of pryson /1 was
neuer in gretter paryl ne nerrer my deth/but how it euer
goo /I shal by my wille neuer more come in the kynges
daunger/I haue now goten my thombe out of his mouth/
that thanke I my subtylyte.
Ame ermelyne saide reynart I counseyle that we goo not
n to another foreste / where we sholde be strange and
.lenge we haue here al that we desyre/And ye be here
E\’G. Sc//. Lib. No 1, 5
Digitized by t^ooQle
50
[Reynard beguiles Bellin.
Trans, by
W. Caxton
June 1481.
lorde of our neyghbours / wherfore shalle we leue this place /
And auenture vs in a worse / we may abyde her sure ynough /
yf the kynge wold doo vs ony harme or besiege vs / here ben
so many by or side holes / in suche wyse as we shal escape
from hym / in abydyng here / we may not doo amys / we knowe
alle bypathes ouer alle/and er he take vs with myght/he
muste haue moche helpe therto but that ye haue sworen that
ye shal goo ouersee and abide there / that is the thyng that
toucheth me moste.
nay dame care not therfore/how more for sworn/how
more forlorn/I wente ones with a good man /that said to
me/that a bydwongen oth* or oth sworn for force, was none
oth. Though I wente on his pilgremage it shold not auaylle
me a cattes tayl. I wil abyde here and folowe your counseyl/
yf the kyng hunte after me. I shal kepe me as wel as I
maye. yf he be me to[o] myghty. yet I hope wyth subtylte to
begyle hym. I shal vnbynde my sack, yf he wil seche harm
he shal fynde harme.
Kf^ffiOw was bellyn the ramme angry that kywart his felawe
jH^jraiwas so longe in the hole/and called lowde. come out
pfreJlkvwflrtft in the deuels name, how longe shal reynait
kepe you there / haste you and come late vs goo /
whan reynard herde this* he wente out and saide softly to
bellyn the ramme. lief bellyn wherfore be ye angry kywart
speketh wyth his dere aunte. me thynketh ye ought not to be
dysplesid therfore. he bad me saye to yow ye myght wel go to
fore* And he shal come after* he is lighter of fote than ye. he
muste tarye a whyle wyth his aunte and her chyldren. they
wepe and crye by cause I shal goo fro them /
bellyn sayde*what dyde kyward. methoughte he cryed after
helpe/
the foxe answ r erd / what saye ye bellyne wene ye that he shold
haue ony harme/now herke what he thenne dyde/whan we were
comen in to myn hows/and ermelyn my wyf vnderstode that
I shold goo ouer see she fyl doun in a swoun and whan
kywart sawe that/he cryed loude bellyn come helpe myn
aunte to brynge her out of her swoun
thenne sayde the ramme In fayth I vnderstode that kywart
had ben in grete daunger /
the foxe sayde / nay truly / or kyward shold haue ony harme in
Digitized by t^ooQle
wTcajrton Reynard sends Kywert’s head to the King.] <;i
June 1481. *
my hows /1 had leuer that my wyf and chyldren shold suffre
moche hurte/
footo tbe fore sente tbe been of ftptoart tbe bate to
tbe fepnge bp bellpn tbe ramme* capitulo rr/°.
■5SEJBiHe foxe saide / bellyn remembre ye not that
DEJ 0Byesterday the kynge and his counseyl commanded
SSflme that er I shoid departe out of this lande/I
^SJSjjshold sende to hym two lettres. dere cosyn I pray
you to bere them, they be redy wreton.
the ramme sayde I wote neuer yf I wiste that your
endyttyng and wrytyngwere good/ye myght pareuenture so
moche praye me that I wold bere them/yf I had ony thyng
to bere them in /
reynard saide ye shal not fayle to haue som what to bere
them in / rather than they shold be vnborn I shal rather gyue
yow my male that I bere. and put the kynges lettres therin.
and hange them aboute your necke ye shal haue of the kynge
grete thanke therfore and be ryght welcomen to hym.
hier vpon bellyn promysed hym to bere thise lettres*
tho retorned reynart in to his hows and toke the male and put
therin kywarts heed and brought it to bellyn for to brynge hym
in daunger/And henge it on his necke/and chargyd hym not
for to loke in the male/yf he wolde haue the kyngis frendship
and yf ye wil that the kynge take you in to his grace and loue
you / saye that ye your self haue made the lettre and endited
it / and haue gyuen the counseyl that it is so wel made and
wreton/ye shal haue grete thank therfore/
bellyn the ramme was glad herof and thought he shold haue
grete thank and saide reynarde I wote wel that ye now doo
for me /1 shal be in the court gretly preysed whan it is knowen
that I can so wel endyte and make alettre / thaugh I can not
make it / ofte tymesit happeth that god suffreth somme to haue
worship and thanke of the labouris and connyng of other men /
and so it shal bifalle me now / Now what counseyle ye reyner/
shal kywart [t]he hare come wyth me to the court/
nay sayd the foxe /he shal anone folowe yow/he may not
yet come /for he muste speke wyth his aunte/
Digitized by t^ooQle
5a [The advice of Firapeel the Leopard.
Trans, by
\V. Caxton
June 1481*
ICTKSlOw goo ye forth to fore /1 shal shewe to kywart secrete
WjrCwthings whiche ben not yet knowen /
bellyn sayde fare wel reynart / and wente hym forth
to the court / and he ran and hasted so faste that he cam
to fore mydday to the court/and fonde the kynge in his
palays wyth his barons/the kynge meruaylled whan he saw
hym brynge the male agayn whiche was made of the beres
skyn / the kyng saide saye on bellyn fro whens come ye / where
is the foxe/how is it that he hath not the male with hym/
bellyn sayd my lord I shal saye yow al that I knowe /1
accompayned reynard vnto his hows/And whan he was
redy he asked me yf I that wold ffor your saacke bere two.
lettres to yow/I saide for to do you playsir and worship/
I wold gladly bere to yow vij. tho brought he to me this
male where in the lettres be/whiche ben endyted by my
connyng and I gaf counseyl of the makyng of them /1 trowe
ye sawe neuer lettres better ne craftelyer made ne endyted /
The kynge commanded anon bokart his secretarye to rede
the lettres/ffor he vnderstode al maner langages/tybert the
catte and he toke the male of[f] bellyns necke / and bellyn hath
so ferre sayd and confessyd / that he therfore was dampned.
■ He clerke bokwart vndyde the male/and drewe out
kywarts heed and said alas what lettres ben these/
certaynly my lord this is kywarts heed /
alas sayde the kynge that euer I beleuid so the foxe/There
myghte men see grete heuynesse of the kynge and of the
quene/the kynge was so angry that he helde longe doun his
heed And atte laste after many thoughtes/he made a grete
crye/that alle the bestys were aferde of the noyse/
Tho spack sir firapeel/the lupaerd whiche was sybbe
somwhat to the kynge/and saide/sire kyng how make ye
suche a noyse ye make sorow ynough thaugh the quene were
deed / late this sorowe goo / and make good chere / it is grete
shame/be ye not a lorde and kynge of this londe/Is it not
alle vnder yow/that here is/
the kynge sayde sir firapeel how sholde I sufifre this / one
false shrewe and deceyuar hath betrayed me and brought me so
ferre / that I haue forwrought and angred my frendes / that I the
stoute bruyn the bere/and ysegrym the wulf/whiche sore me
Digitized by t^ooQle
WaLwn Bellin slain by Isegrim and Bruin.1 53
June 1481.
repenteth / and this go[e]th ayenst my worship that I haue done
amys ayenst my beste barons and that I trusted and beleuid
so moche the fals horeson the foxe/and my wyf is cause
therof/she prayde me so moche that I herde her prayer
and that me repenteth/thaugh it be to[o] late/
what thawh sir kyng said the lupaerd/yf ther be ony
thyng mysdon / it shal be amended we shal gyue to bruyn the
bere to ysegrym the wulf/and to erswyn hys wyf for the pece
of his skynne and for their shoes for to haue good pees bellyn
the ramme/for he hath confessyd hymself that he gaf
counseyl and consentyd to kywardes deth/it is reson that he
aby[d]e it /And we alle shal goo fecche reynardandwe shal
areste hym and hange hym by the necke withoute lawe or
Iugement/and ther with alle shul be contente/
£oto frellpn t&e tamme anD alle fji$ lignage to ere
gpuen in tbe franOes of p0egrgm ana fcrugn ana
footo be teas slapn/capitulti .rrij°.
He kynge saide I wil do it gladly/
firapel the lupaerd wente tho to the pryson/and
[vnbonde them firste/and thenne he sayde ye sires I
Jjbrynge to you a faste pardon and my lordes loue and
frendship it repenteth hym and is sory that he euer hath don
spoken or trespaced ayenst you / and therfore ye shal haue a
good appoyntement / And also amendes he shal / gyue to you
bellyn the ramme and alle his lignage fro now forthon to
domesdaye / in suche wyse that where someuer ye fynde them
in felde or in wode that ye may frely byte and ete them
wythoute ony forfayte / And also the kynge graunteth to yow/
that ye maye hunte and do the werst ye can to reynard and alle
his lygnage wythoute mysdoyng This fayr grcte pryuelage
wylle the kynge graunte to you euer to holde of hym/And
the kynge wille that ye swere to hym neuer to mysdoo/but
doo hym homage and feawte I counseil yow to doo this/ffor
ye may doo it honorably /
Thus was the pees made by fyrapel the lupaerd frendly and
wel / And that coste bellyn the ramme his tabart and also
his lyf/and the wulfis lignage holde thise preuilegis of the
Digitized by t^ooQle
54 [The second feast of Noble the King. w. ciaxt™
kyngc/smd in to thys daye they deuoure and ete bellyns
lignage where that they may fynde them this debate was
legonne in an euyl tvme/ffor the pees coude neuer syth be
made bytwene them /
The kynge dyde forth wyth his courte and feste[d] lengthe
xij’ dayes lenger for loue of the bere and the wulf/So glad
was he of the makyng of this pees/
t&efepnge betoe fjis feeste I ant) fjoto lapreel tfje
conp complapneD tmto t&e fegnge ppon tegnart t&e
fore capituto *rriij°.
10 this grete feste cam al maner of beestis/ffor the
Ikynge dyde do crye this feste ouer alle in that londe /
iTher was the moste Ioye and myrthe that euer was
[seen emonge beestis / Ther was daunsed manerly the
houedaunce with shalmouse trompettis and alle maner of
menestralsye / the kynge dyde do ordeyne so moche mete /
that euerych fonde ynough / And ther was no beest in al
his lande so grete ne so lytyl but he was there / and ther were
many fowles and byrdes also / and alle they that desired the
kynges frendship were there/sauyng reynard the foxe/the
rede false pilgrym whiche laye in a wayte to doo harme / and
thoughte it was not good for hym to be there / Mete and
drynke flowde there/Ther weere playes and esbatemens/
The feest was ful of melodye / One myghte haue luste to see
suche a feeste /
and right as the feeste had dured viij dayes/a boute mydday
cam in the cony lapreel to fore the kynge where he satte on
the table with the quene / and sayde al heuyly that all they
herde hym that were there / My lorde haue pyte on my
complaynt whiche is of grete force and murdre that reynard
the foxe wold haue don to me /yester morow as I cam rennyng
by his borugh at maleperdhuys he stode byfore his dore
without lyke a pylgryme /1 supposed to haue passed by hvm
peasibly toward this feste and whan he sawe me come /he
came ayenst me sayeng his bedes I salewed hym/but he
spack not one worde/but he raught out his right foot and
dubbed me in the necke bytwene myn Eeris/that I had
Digitized by v^ooQle
W. Caxton The complaint op Lapreel & Corbant.1 <<
June 1481. J
wende I sholde haue loste my heed/but god be thanked I
was so lyght that I sprange fro hym/ wyth moche payne cam
I of his clawes/he grymmed as he had ben angry by cause
he helde me no faster /tho I escaped from hym I loste myn
one ere / and I had foure grete holes in my heed of his sharpe
nayles that the blood sprange out / and that I was ny[g]he al a
swoun / but for the grete fere of my lyf I sprange and ran so
faste fro hym that he coude not ouertake me /See my lord
thise grete woundes that he hath made to me with his sharpe
longe nayles /I pray yow to haue pite of me and that ye wil
punysshe this false traytour and morderar/or ellis shal ther
noman goo and comen ouer the heth in saefte / whyles
he haunteth his false and shrewde rewle /
rpoto cortmnt tbe rofee complaynetJ on tbe fore for
tbe oetb of bis topf capitulo .rriuj°.
Yght as the cony had made an ende of his
complaynt/cam in corbant the roek flowen in the
place to fore the kynge and sayde/dere lorde here
me / I brynge you hier a pietous complaynt /1 wente
to day by the morow wyth sharpebek my wyf for to playe vpon
the heth And there laye reynart the foxe doun on the
grounde lyke a dede keytyf/hys eyen stared and his tonge
henge longe out of his mouth /lyke an hounde had ben deed/
we tasted and felte his bely/but we fonde theron no lyf/
tho wente my wyf and herkened and leyde her ere to fore his
mouth for to wite yf he drewe his breeth / whiche mysfylle her
euyl / ffor the false felle foxe awayted wel his tyme and whan
he sawe her so nygh hym /he caught her by the heed and
boote it of[f] / tho was I in grete sorowe and cryde lowde/ Alas
alas what is there happed/thenne stode he hatelsy vp/ana
raught so couetously after me that for feere of deth / I
trembled and flewh vpon a tree therby and sawe fro ferre
how the false keytyf ete and slonked her in so hungerly that
he lefte neyther flessh ne bone/nomore but a fewe fethers/
the smal fethers he slange them in wyth the flessh / he was so
hungry/he wolde wel haue eten tweyne/Tho wente he his
strete / tho flewe I doun wyth grete sorow and gadred vp the
fetheris for to shewe them to you here /1 wolde not be agayn
Digitized by t^ooQle
Trans, by
W. Caxton
Jane 1481.
56 [Noble the King is sore angry.
in suche peryl and fere as I was there for a thousand marke /
of the fynest gold that euer cam out of arabye / My lord the
kynge see hier this pyteous werke / Thise ben the fethers of
sharpbecke my wyf / my lord yf ye wil haue worship ye
muste do herfore Iustyce and auenge you in suche wise
as men may fere and holde of yow/ffor yf ye suffre thus
youre saufconduyt to be broken / ye your self shal not goo
peasibly in the hye way/for tho lordes that do not Iustyce
and suffre that the lawe be not executed vpon the theeuis /
morderars and them that mysdoo / they be parteners to fore
god of alle theyr mysdedes and trespaces / and eueryche
thenne/wylle be a lord hym self / dere lorde see wel to for to
kepe your self*
tbe&jmgetoaan&ote angtg cf tf)ise complapntes
capituto .x&}°.
the kynge was sore meuyd and angry whan he
ytk^yhad herde thise complayntes of the cony and of the
B^Ui roek / he was so f erc ^ u l *° ^ oke on his eyen
BSSMilglyrnmerd as fyre/he brayed as lowde as a bulle in
suche wise that alle the couit quoke for feere/at the laste he
sayde cryeng/by my crowne and by the trouthe that I owe
to my wyf I shal so awreke and auenge this trespaces / that
it shal be longe spoken of after/that my saufconduyt and my
commandement is thus broken I was ouer nyce that I beleuid
solyghtlythe false shrewe/his false flateryngspechedeceyued
me / He tolde me he wolde go to rome/and for thens ouer see
to the holy londe /1 gaf hym male and palster and made of hym
a pylgrym and mente al trouth / O what false touches can
he/how can he stuffe the sleue wyth flockes/but this caused
my wyf/ it was al by her counseyl /1 am not the fyrst that
haue been deceyued by wymmens counseyl by whiche many a
grete hurte hath byfallen /1 pray and comande alle them
that holde of me and desire my frendship/be they here or
where someuer they be /that they wyth theyr counseyl and
dedes helpe met[o]auenge this ouer g[r]eete trespaas / that we
and owris may abyde in honour and worship/and this false
theef in shame that he nomore trespace ayenst our saufguarde/
I wil mysell in my persone helpe therto al that I maye/
Digitized by t^ooQle
w?cLton The debate in the King’s Council.] 57
IPHSSegrym the wulf and bruyn the here herde wel the
|R| fi]ky n S es wordes/and hoped wel to be auengid on reynard
|iiaySy|the foxe but they durste not speke one word The
kynge was so sore meuyd that none durste wel speke /
Atte laste the quene spak / Sire pour dieu ne croyes mye
toutes choses que on vous dye/et ne lures pas legierment /A
man of worship shold not lyghtly bileue ne swere gretly vnto
the tyme he knewe the mater clerly. and also he ought by
right here that other partye speke. There ben many that
complayne on other and ben in the defaute them self.
Audi alteram partem, here that other partye /1 haue truly
holden the foxe for good / and vpon that / that he mente no
falsehede /1 helped hym that I myghte but how someuer it
cometh or gooth/is he euyl or good/me thynketh for your
worship that ye shold not procede ayenst hym ouer hastely
that were not good ne honeste / ffor he may not escape fro
you. Ye maye prysone hym or flee hym/hemuste obeye
your Iugement /
thenne saide fyrapel the lupaerd / My lord me thynketh /
my lady here hath saide to you trouthe and gyuen yow good
counseyl do ye wel and folowe her and take aduyse of your
wyse counseyl / And yf he be founden gylty in the trespaces
that now to yow be shewd / late hym besore punyshid acordyng
to hys trespaces / And yf he come not hyther / er this feste be
ended and excuse hym / as he ought of right to doo / thenne doo
as the counseyl shal aduyse yow/But and yf he were twyes
as moche false and ylle as he is /1 wolde not counseylle that
he sholde be done to more then right /
Isegrym the wulf said sir fyrapal. all we agree to the
same - as ferre as it pleseth my lord the kynge / it can not
be better. But though reynart were now here, and he
cleryd hym of double so many playntes yet shold I brynge
forth ayenste hym that he had forfayted his lyf. But I
wyl now be stylle and saye not. by cause he is not presente
and yet aboue alle this he hath tolde the kynge of certayn
tresour lyeng in krekenpyt in hulsterlo. Ther was neuer
lyed a greter lesyng. ther wyth he hath vs alle begyled.
and hath sore hyndred me and the bere. I dar leye my lyf
theron that he sayd not therof a trewe worde. Now robbeth
he and steleth vpon the heth / alle that gooth forth by his
Digitized by t^ooQle
58[Grimbert warns Reynard of the King’s wroth. w^tSo
June 1481.
hows/Neuertheles sir firapel what that pleseth the kynge
and yow/that muste wel be don/But and yf he wolde haue
comen hyther/he myght haue ben here for he had knowleche
by the kynges messager /
The kynge sayde we wyl none otherwyse sende for hym /
but I commande alle them that owe me seruyse and wylle
my honour and worshippe that they make them redy to the
warre at the ende of vj dayes / all them that ben archers and
hauebowes/ gonnes / bombardes/horsemen / and footemen that
alle thise be redy to besiege maleperduys /1 shal destroye
reynart the foxe/yflbe a kynge/ye lordes and sires what
saye ye hereto / wille ye doo this wyth a good wyl /
And they sayd and cryed alle /ye[a] we lorde/whan that ye
wylle / we shal alle goo with yow.
j^oto gxpmbert tbe tmsse teamen tbe fore/that tbe
ftpnge teas torotb toitb fjpm anO tooID slee fjpm
capituto .rrte°.
Lie thise wordes herde gymbert the dasse whiche
was his brother sone / he was sory and angry yf it
myght haue prouffyted he ranne thenne the hye way
__to maleperduys ward/he spared nether busshe ne
hawe / but he hasted so sore that he swette/hesorowedin hym
self for reynart his rede erne/and as he wente he saide to
hym self Alas in what daunger be ye comen in / where shal
ye become shal I see you brought fro lyf to deth/ 01 * elles
exyled out of the lande/truly I may be wel sorouful/for ye
be heed of alle our lygnage / ye be wyse of counseyl / ye be redy
to helpe your frendes whan they haue nede/ye can so wel
shewe your resons / that where ye speke / ye wynne all /
with suche maner wayllyng / and pytous wordes cam
grymbert to maleperduys /
And fonde reynart his erne there standyng/whiche had
goten two pygeons / as they cam first out of her neste to
assaye yf they coude flee and because the fethers on her wyngis
were to[o] shorte / they fylle doun to the ground / And as
reynart was gon out to seche his mete / he espyed them and
caught hem and was comen home with hem /
Digitized by v^ooQle
w’ti.tonTHE Court may not prosper without me.] 59
June 1481.
And whan he sawe grymbert comyng/he taryed and said /
welcome my best beloued neuew that I knowe in al my
kynrede / ye haue ronne faste / ye ben al be swette / haue ye ony
newe tydynges /
alas said he/lyef eme it standeth euyl wyth yow/ye haue
loste both lyf and good / the kynge hath sworn that he shal
gyue you a shameful deth / he hath commanded alle his folke
withyn vj dayes for to be here/Archers/fotemen/horsemen /
Andpeple in waynes’ And he hath gunnes / bombardes tentes
and pauyllyons / And also he hath do laaden torches / See to
fore yow/For ye haue nede/Ysegrym and bruyn ben better
now wyth the kynge than I am wyth yow / Alle that they
wille/Isdoon/Isegrym hath don hym to vnderstande that ye
be a theef and a morderar he hath grete enuye to yow.
Lapreel the cony and Corbant the roek haue made a grete
complaynt also. I sorow moche for your lyf. That for drede
I am alle seke.
Puf said the foxe / dere neuew is ther nothyng ellis / be ye so
sore aferd herof Make good chere hardely/thaugh the kynge
hym self and alle that ben in the court had sworn my deth /
yet shal I be exalted aboue them alle/They maye alle faste
Iangle clatre and yeue counseyl/but the courte may not
prospere wythoute me and my wyles and subtylte
&oto tepnart tfje fare cam another tpme to the
coutte capitulo
|Sp 5 S?|Ere neuew late alle thise thynges passe and come
y Ujalhere in / and see what I shal gyue you / a good payre
H ^ atte Py& eons /I l° ue no mete better/They ben
to dygeste/they may almoste be swolowen
in al hool / the bones ben half blode/I ete them wyth that
other. I fele my self other whyle encombred in my stomak
therfore ete I gladly lyght mete. My wyf ermelyn shal
receyue vs frendly/but telle her nothyng of this thynge/ffor
she sholde take it ouer heuyly / she is tendre of herte. she
myghte for fere falle in somme sekenes/a lytyl thynge gooth
sore to her herte. And to morow erly I wil goo with yow
to the courte/And yf I may come to speche and may be
herde/I shal so ansuere/that I shal touche somme nygh
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- P _ i rans. oy
6o [Reynard at home with his family, w. Caxton
June 1481.
ynowh /neuew wyl not ye stande by me/as a frende oughte to
doo to another/
yes truly dere eme said grymbert and alle my good is at
your commandement /
god thanke you neuew saide the foxe/That is wel said, yf
I may lyue I shal quyte it yow/ .
Eme said grymbert ye may wel come tofore alle the lordes
and excuse yow ther shal none areste yow ne holde as longe
as ye be in your wordes / The quene and the lupaerd haue
goten that /
then said the foxe / therfor I am glad / thenne I carre not
for the beste of them an heer/1 shal wel saue my self /
they spake nomore herof / but wente forth in to the burgh /
And fonde ermelyn there sittyng by her yonglyngs whiche
aroose vp anon and receyuid them frendly / Grymbert salewed
his aunte and the chyldren with friendly wordes / the ij
pygeons were made redy for theyr soper/ Whiche reynard had
taken / eche of them toke his part as ferre as it wolde stratche /
yfecheof hem had had one more/ ther sholdebut lytyl haue lefte
ouer/the foxe saide/lief nouewe/how lyke/ye my chyldren
rosel and reynerdyn they shal do worship to alle our lygnage /
They begynne al redy to do wel / that one catcheth wel a
chyken and that other a pullet / They conne wel also duke in
the water after lapwynches and dokys /1 wolde ofte sende
them for prouande / but I wil fyrste teche them how they shal
kepe them fro the grynnes / fro the hunters and fro the
houndes/yf they were so ferre comen that they were wyse/I
durste wel truste to them that they shold wel vytaylle vs in
many good diuerses metes/That we now lacke/And they
lyke and folowe me wel / ffor they playe alle grymmyng and
where they hate they loke frendly and meryly ffor ther by
they brynge them vnder their feet / And byte the throte
asondre / This is the nature of the foxe / They be sw/fte in their
takynge whiche pleseth me wel.
Me said grymbert ye may be glad that ye haue suche
wyse chyldren/And I am glad of them also by cause
they be of my kynne /
Grymbert said the foxe ye haue swette and be wery it were
hye tyde that ye were at your reste /
Eme yf it plese you it thynketh me good Tho laye they
Digitized by t^ooQle
w’cax’S. Reynard’s second confession to Grimbert .1 6i
June 1481.
doun on a lytier made of strawe/the foxe hys wyf and hys
chyldren wente alle to slepe / But the foxe was al heuy / and laye.
sighed and sorowed how he myghte beste excuse hym self/
On the morow erly he ruymed his castel and wente with
grymbart/but he toke leue first of dame ermelyn his wyf
and of his chyldren/and sayde thynke not longe I muste goo
to the court wyth grymbert my cosyn/yf I tarye somwhatbe
not aferde / and yf ye here ony ylle tydyngis / take it alway for
the beste. And see wel to your self and kepe our castel wel I
shal doo yonder the beste I can after that I see how it gooth
Alas reyner said she how haue ye now thus taken vpon yow
for to go to the court agayn/the last tyme that ye were
there ye were in grete ieopardye of your lyf. And ye sayde
ye wold neuer come there more.
dame said the foxe. th[e]auenture of the world is wonderly
it goth otherwhyle by wenyng/Many one weneth to haue a
thing whiche he muste forgoo. I muste nedes now go
thyder/be content it is al wythoute drede/I hope to come at
alther lengest with in fyue dayes agayn /
Here wyth he departed and wente wyth grymbert to the
court ward/And whan they were vpon the heeth thenne
sayde reyner/ Neuew syth I was laste shryuen I haue don
many shrewde tornes /1 wolde ye wold here me now of alle
that I haue trespaced in /1 made the bere to haue a grete
wounde for the male whiche was cute out of his skynne / And
also I made the wulf and his wyf to lese her shoon /1 peased
the kynge with grete lesyngis and bare hym on honde that
the wulf and the bere wold haue betrayed hym and wolde haue
slayn hym/so I made the kynge right wroth with them -
where they deseruyd it not/also I tolde to the kynge that
ther was grete tresour in hulsterlo of whiche he was neuer
the better ne richer /for I lyed al that I sayde/I ledde bellyn
the ramme and kywart the hare with me / and slevve kyward
and sente to the kynge by bellyn kywarts heed in skorn / And
I dowed the cony bytwene his eeris that almost I benamme
his lyf from hym ffor he escaped ayenst my wyl/he was to me
ouerswyft/The roeke may wel complayne / for I swolowed
in dame sharpbeck his wyf /and also I haue forgoten on thyng
the laste tyme that I was shreuen to you / Which I haue syth
bethought me / And it was of grete deceyte that I dyde whiche
I now wyll telle yow /
Digitized by t^ooQle
- v i mns. dv
62 [The red mare nearly kills Isegrim. w. Caxton
June 1481.
I cam wyth the wulf walkynge bytwene houthulst and
eluerdynge / There sawe we goo a rede mare /And she had a
black colte or a fool of iiij monethis olde / whiche was good and
fatte Isegrym was almost storuen for hunger/And prayd me
goo to the mare / and wyte of her yf she wold selle her fool /
I ran faste to the mare / And axed that of her / she sayd she
wold selle it for money /
I demaunded of her how she wold selle it /
she sayde it is wreton in my hyndre foot j Yf ye conne
rede and be a clerk ye may come see and rede it.
Tho wyste I wel where she wold be. and I saide nay for
sothe I can not rede / And also I desyre not to bye your chylde*
Isegrym hath sente me hether. and wold fayn knowe the prys
therof/
the mare saide late hym come thenne hym self/And I
shall late hym haue knowleche/
I sayde/I shal/and hastely wente to ysegrym and saide /
erne wil ye ete your bely ful of this colte/so goo faste to the
mare for she taryeth after yow/ She hath do wryte the pris
of her colte vnder her fote she wolde that I shold haue redde
it/but I can not one lettre/whiche me sore repenteth / ffor I
wente neuer to scole/eme wylle ye bye that colte/conne ye
rede so maye ye bye it /
oy neuew that can I wel what shold me lette/I can wel
frenshe latyn englissh and duche. I haue goon to scole at
oxenford I haue also wyth olde and auncyent doctours ben
in the audyence and herde plees / and also haue gyuen
sentence /1 am lycensyd in bothe lawes / what maner wrytyng
that ony man can deuyse /1 can rede it as perfyghtly as my
name* I wyl goo to her and shal anon vnderstonde the prys /
and he bad me to tarye for hym /
and he ranne to the mare / and axed her how she wold selle
her fool or kepe it /
she sayde the somme of the money standeth wreton after
on my fote
he said late me rede it
she said do 0 and lyfte vp her foot whiche was newe shood
wyth yron and vj stronge nayles / and she smote hym wythout
myssyng on his heed that he fyl doun as he had ben deed / a
man shold wel haue ryden a myle er he aroos / The mare
trotted a way wyth her colte/And she left Isegrym lyeng
Digitized by t^ooQle
w! L'axton Grimbert forgives Reynard’s trespasses.] 63
June 1481.
shrewdly hurt and wounded He laye andbledde/And howled
as an hound /1 wente tho to hym and sayde / Sir ysegrym dere
eme how is it now wyth yow. haue ye eten ynowh of the
colte. is your bely ful. why gyue ye me no part I dyde your
erande. haue ye slepte your dyner I pray yow telle me what
was wreton vnder the mares fote what was it. prose or ryme.
metre or verse. I wold fayn knowe it. I trowe it was cantum.
for I herde you synge me thoughte fro ferre. for ye were so
wyse that noman coude rede it better than ye/
Alas reynart alas said the wulf I pray you to leue youre
mockyng. I am so foule arayed and sore hurte/than an herte
of stone myght haue pyte on me. The hore wyth her longe
legge had an yron foot I wende the nayles therof had ben
lettres/and she hytte me at the fyrst stroke vj. grete woundes
in my heed that almost it is clouen. suche maner lettres shal
I neuer more desire to rede/
Dere eme is that trouthe that ye telle me /1 haue grete
meruaylle /1 heelde you for one of the wysest clerkes that now
lyue/Now I here wel/it is true that I long syth haue redde
and herde / that the beste clerkes ben not the wysest men /
The laye peple otherwhyle wexe wyse/the cause that thise
clerkes ben not the wysest /is that they studye so mochein the
connyng and science / that they therin doole / Thus brought I
Isegrym in this grete laste and harme. That he vnneth
byhelde his lyf /
H Yef neuew now haue I tolde yow alle my synnes that
I remembre. What so euer falle at the courte. I wote
neuer how it shal stonde with me there. I am not
now so sore aferd* ffor I am clere from synne I wyl gladly
come to mercy / and receyue penance by your counseyh
grymbert sayde the trespaces ben grete / neuertheles who
that is deed muste abyde deed, and therfore I wyl forgyue
it you alto gydre/ With the fere that ye shal suffre therfore/
er ye shal conne excuse yow of the deth / and hier vpon I wyl
assoylle you. but the moste hyndre that ye shal haue shal be.
that ye sente kywarts heed to the court And that ye blynded
the kynge wyth sutthe lyes / Eme that was right euyl doon /
The foxe sayde. what lyef neuew. Who that wyl go
thurgh the world this to here, and that to see / and that
other to telle, truly it may not clerly be done, how shold
Digitized by t^ooQle
64 [Reynard’s philosophy of lying.
Trans, by
W. Caxton
June 1481.
ony man handle hony. but yf he lycked his fyngres’ I
am oftymes rored and prycked in my conscience as to loue
god aboue all thynge’ and myn euen crysten as my self, as
is to god wel acceptable, and accordyng to his lawe/ But
how wene ye that reson wythin forth fyghteth ayenst the
outeward wylle than stonde I alle stylle in my self that me
thynketh I haue loste alle my wittes/ And wote not what me
eyleth I am thenne in suche a thought /1 haue now alle lefts
my synnes / And hate alle thynge that is not good / and
clymme in hye contemplacion abone his commandements but
this specyal grace haue I whan I am alone / But in a short
whyle after whan the world cometh in me thenne fynde I in
my waye so many stones/and the fote spores that thyse
loos prelates/and riche preestys goo in/that I am anone
taken agayn/thenne cometh the world and wyl haue this/
And the flesshe wyl lyue plesantly/whiche leye to fore me so
many thinges that I thenne lese alle my good thoughtis
and purpoos / I here there synge pype / lawhe / playe / and alle
myrthe/ And I here that these prelates and riche curates
preche and saye al other wyse/than they thynke and doo /
There leme I to lye /the lesynges ben moste vsed in the
lordes courtes/certaynly lordes/ladyes/ prestis and clerkes
maken moste lesyngis/Men dar not telle to the lordes now
the trouthe / Ther is defaute /1 muste flatre and lye also / or
ellis I shold be shette wythoute the dore /1 haue ofte herde
men saye trouthe and rightfully / And haue theyr reson made
wyth a lesynge lyke to theyr purpose and brought it in and
wente thurgh by cause their mater shold seme the fayrer/The
lesyng oftymes cometh vnauysed/And falleth in the mater
vnwetyngly. And so whan she is wel cladde / it goth forth
thurgh with that other/
IB^^SIEre neuew thus muste men now lye here / and there
DgRIsaye soth flatre/and menace / praye* and curse/And
PJB&M seke euery man vpon his feblest and wekest/who
otherwyse wylle now haunte and vse the world / than deuyse
alesyng in the fayrest wyse / and that bywymple with kerchieuis
aboute in suche wise that men take it for a trouthe/he is not
ronne away fro his maister / Can he that subtylte in suche wise
that he stamer not in his wordes/and may thenne be herde /
neuew / this man may doo wonder he may were skarlet and
Digitized by t^ooQle
Trans, by m .
w.caxtun The qualifications of a good liar.] 65
June 1481.
gryse / he wynneth in the spyrituel lawe and temporal also
and where sommeuer he hath to doo/Nowben ther many
false shrewis that haue grete enuye that they haue so grete
fordele/And wene that they conne also wel lye/And take on
them to lye and to telle it forth / he wolde fayn ete of the fatte
morsellis. but he is not bileued ne herd / And many ben
ther that be so plompe and folisshe' that whan they wene
beste to prononce and shewe their matere and conclude. They
falle besyde and oute therof. And can not thenne helpe hem
self/and leue theyr mater wythout tayl or heed and he is
a compted for a fool/And many mocke them ther with /but
who can gyuc to his lesynge a conclusion / and prononce it
without tatelyng lyke as it were wreton to fore hym / and that
he can so blynde the peple / That his lesynge shal better be
bileuid than the trouthe/That is the man. What connyng
is it to saye the trouth that is good to doo. How lawhe thise
false subtyl shrewis that gyuecounseyl to make thise lesynges.
and sette them forth/And maken vnright goo aboue right /
and make billes/and sette in thynges that neuer were
thought ne sayd/and teche men see thurgh their fyngres
And alle for to Wynne money / and late their tonges to hyre
for to mayntene and strengthe their lesyngis alas neuewe this
is an euyl connyng /of whiche. lyf. scathe and hurte may
come ther of/
|M"Md Saye not but that otherwhyle men muste Iape / bourde
and lye in smale thyngis/for who so sayth alway
|EyS3|trouthe. he may not now goo nowher thurgh the world,
ther ben many that playe placebo, who so alleway sayth
trouth. shal fynde many lettyngis in his way. Men may wel
lye whan it is nede/and after amende it by counseyl / ffor
alle trespaces / ther is mercy. Ther is no man so wyse/but
he dooleth other whyle /
Grymbert sayde wel dere erne what thynge shal you
lette. ye knowe al thyng at the narewest/ye shulde brynge
me hastely in dotyng your resons passen my vnderstandyng /
what nede haue ye to shryue you / ye shulde your self by right
be the preest/And lete me and other sheep come to you for
to be shryuen /ye knowe the state of the world in suche wyse
as noman may halte tofore you /
Wyth suche maner talkynge they cam walkyng in to the
£.VG. Sen. Lilt. No. 1 . 6
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rn 1 T r i rans. uy
66 [Reynard s second excuse to the King. w.ca*t« n
June 1481.
court/The foxe sorowed somwhat in his herte/Neuertheles
he bare it out and stryked forth thurgh alle the folke til
he cam in to the place where the kynge hym self was /
And grymbert was alway by the foxe and sayd erne be
not a ferde. and make good chere / who that is hardy /
th[e]auenture helpeth hym / Oltymes one day is better than
somtyme an hole yere /
the foxe saide/Neuew ye saye trouthe/god thanke you
ye comfort me wel /
And forth he wente and lokyd grymly here and there as
who saith/what wylle ye here come I /he sawe there many
of his kynne standyng which yonned hym but lytyl good /
as the otter beuer and other to the nombre of’ x. whome I
shal. name afterward / And somme were there that loued
hym’
The ffoxe cam in and fyl doun on his knees to fore the
kyng and began his wordes and sayde"
JJ)oto repnart before crcuscD bpm bifote tbe fepnge
capitulo .rrbiif.
Od fro whom nothyng may be hyd/and aboue alle
thyng is myghty saue my lord the kynge and my
lady the quene and gyue hym grace to knowe who
|hath right and who hath wronge / For ther lyue many
in the world that seme otherwise outward than they be
withinne/I wolde that god shewde openly euery mans
mysdedes/and alle theyr trespaces stoden wreton in theyr
forehedes / and it coste me more than I now saye / And that
ye my lord the kynge knewe as moche as /1 doo / how I dispose
me bothe erly and late in your seruyse / And therfore am I
complayned on of the euyl shrewys and wyth lesynges am
put out of your grace and consayte/and wold charge me with
grete offends wythoute deseruyng ayenst al right /Wherfore
I crye out harowe on them that so falsely haue belyed me /
and brought me in suche trouthe/how be it I hope and
knowe you bothe my lorde and my lady for so wyse and
discrete/that ye be not ledde nor bileue suche lesyngis ne
false talis out of the right waye for ye haue not be woned so
to doo/Therfore dere lorde I biseche you to considre by
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wTclaxton The KlNG THREATENS REYNARD WITH II ANGING.l 67
June 1481.
your wysedom alle thynge by right and lawe/is it in deede
or in speche/do euery man right/I desire no better he that is
gylty and founde fawty late hym be punysshyd / men shal wel
knowe er I departe out of this courte/who that I am/I can
not flatre I wil allewey shewe openly my heed.
£oto t&e fepnge anstoerD upon repnarts ercuse.
I Lie they that were in the palays weren alle stylle
and wondred that the foxe spack so stoutly /
the kynge sayde/ha reynart how wel can ye
___Jyour falacye and salutacion doon but your fayr
wordes may not helpe you I thynke wel that ye shal this
daye for your werkis be hanged by your necke/I wil not
moche chyde wyth you But I shal shorte your payne / that ye
loue vs wel/that haue ye wel shewde on the cony and on
corbant the roeck/your falsenes and your false Inuencions
shal without longe taryeng make you to deye/A pot may goo
so longe to water/that at the laste it cometh to broken
boom /1 thynke your potte that so ofte hath deceyued vs / shal
now hastly be broken /
reynart was in grete fere of thise wordes* he wold wel. he
had ben at coleyn/when he cam thedyr/Thenne thought
he I muste her thurgh/how that I doo
my lorde the kynge seyd he / it were wel reson that ye herde
my wordes alle out /thaugh I were dampned to the deth / yet
ought ye to here my wordes out. I haue yet here to fore tyme
gyuen to you many a good counseyl and prouffytable / And in
nede alwey haue byden byyow where other beestis haue wyked
and goon theyr way /yf now the euyl beestis with false maters
haue to fore you wyth wronge belyed me / and I myght not
come to myn excuse/ought I not thenne to playne/I haue
to fore this seen that I shold be herde by fore another/yet
myght thise thyngis wel chaunge and come in theyr olde
state/Olde good dedes ought to be remembrid/I see here
many of my lygnage and fiendes standyng that seme they
sette now lytyl by me / Whiche neuertheles sholde sore dere
in theyr hertes. that ye my lord the kynge sholde destroye
me wrongfully yf ye so dyde he sholde destroye the trewest
seruant that ye haue in alle your landes/what wene ye syr
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68 [Reynard’s false story of Martin the Ape. w ra c s ,xt™
June 1481.
kynge/hadde I knowen my self gylty in ony feat or broke, that
I wold haue comen liether to the lawe emonge alle myne
enemyes/Nay sire nay/not for alle the world of rede gold /
ffor I was fre and at large/What nede had I to do that/but
god be thanked I knowe my self clere of alle mysdedes that
I dar wel come openly in the lyghte and to answere to alle
the complayntes that ony man can save on me /but whan
grymbert brought me first thise tydyngis / tho was I not wel
plcsed but half fro my self that I lepe here and there as an
vnwyse man /And had I not ben in the censures of the
chyrche/I had wythoute taryeng haue comen/but I wente
dolynge on the heeth / and wist not what to doo for sorowe /
H Nd thenne it happed that mertyne myn erne the ape mette
wythme. Whiche iswyserinclergie than somme preest.
he hath ben aduocate for the bysshop of cameiyk ixyere
duryng. he sawe me in this grete sorow and heuynes. and
saide to me/dere cosyn me thynketh ye ar not wel wyth your
self/ what eyleth yow. who hath dyspleseyth yow. Thynge
that thoucheth charge ought to be gyuen in knowleche to
frendis. A triew frende is a grete helpe. he fyndeth ofte
better counseyl than he that the charge resteth on. ffor who
someuer is charged wyth maters is so heuy and acombred
with them that ofte he can not begynne to fynde the remedye’
ffor suche be so woo lyke as they had loste theyr Inwytte.
I Saide dere erne ye saye trouthe. For in lyke wyse is fallen
to me. I am brought in to a grete heuynes vndeseruid
and not gylty/byoneto whom I haue alwayben anherty
and grete frende / that is the cony whiche cam to me yesterday in
themorenyngwhereaslsattetofore my hows andsayd matyns/
He tolde me he w f olde goo to the court and salew^ed me
frendly and I hym agayn /
Tho sayd he to me / good reynard I am an hongred and am
wery/haue ye ony mete.
I saide ye ynowh come nere B
Tho gaf I hym acopel of maynchettis with swete butter/
It was vpon a Wednesday on whiche day I am not wonte to
ete ony flessh/And also I fasted by cause of this feste of
whitsontyd whiche approuched/For who that wylle taste of
the ouerest wysehede/and lyue goostly in kepyng the com-
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w*I!L b tL Reynard’s feigned discourse with Martin .1 69
June 1481. *
mandements of our lord/he muste faste and make hym redy
ayenst the hye festes / Et vos estote parati / dere erne I gaf hym
fayr whyte breed with swete butter / wherwyth a man myght
wel be easid that were moche hongry.\
And whan he had eten his bely fulle/thocam russel my
yongest sone / and wold haue taken away that was lefte /
For yonge chyldren wold alway fayne eten / And with
that he tasted for to haue taken somwhat/the cony smote
russel to fore his mouthe that his teeth bledde / and [he] fyl
doun half a swoun / whan reynardyn myn eldest sone sawe
that, he sprange to the cony and caught hym by the heed, and
shold haue slayn hym. had I not reskowed hym I helpe hym
that he wente fro hym /and bete my chyde sore therfore.
lapreelthe cony ran to my lord thekyngandsaidel wold haue
murdred hym See erne thus come I in the wordes/and I am
leyde in the blame. And yet he complayneth and I playne not /
After this cam corbant the roek tleyng wyth a sorouful
noyse /1 asked what hym eyled.
and he said alas my wyf is deed / yonder lyeth a dede hare
full of mathes and wormes / and there she ete so moche therof.
that the wormes haue byten a two her throte /
I axed hym how cometh that by / he wold not speke a
worde more but flewe his waye/And lete me stande*
Now saith he that I haue byten and slayn her/how shold
I come so nygh her/for shee fleeth / and I goo a fote. beholde
dere erne thus am I born an honde. I may saye wel that I am
vnhappy / But parauenture it is for myn olde synnes/ hit were
good for me yf I coude paciently suffre it.
The ape saide to me/Neuew ye shal goo to the courte to
fore the lordes and excuse yow /
Las erne thatmaynotbe. flfor the archedeken hath put
BK&to me in the popes curse / by cause I counseylled ysegrym
B§£jW|the wulf for to leue his religyon at elmare and forsake
his habyte/he complayned to me that he lyuyd so straytly as
in longe fastyng and many thyngis redyng and syngyng that
he coude not endure if Yf he shold longe abyde there he
shold deye. I had pyte of his complaynyng/ And I helpe
hym as a trewe frende that he cam oute. Whiche now me
sore repenteth. for he laboureth al that he can ayenst me
to the kynge for to do me behanged. thus doth he euyl for
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r, - , i rails, uy
70 [He threatens all with the Pope s curse, w. caxton
' June 1481.
good. See eme thus am I at the ende of al my wyttes and
of counseyl. For I muste goo to rome for an absolucion. And
thenne shal my wyf and chyldren suffre moche harme and
blame. For thise euyl bestis that hate me / shulle do to hem
alle the hurte they maye and fordryue them wher they can /
And I wold wel defende hem yf I were fre of the curse /
for thenne wold I goo to the court and excuse me / where
now I dar not /1 shold do grete synne yf I cam emonge the
good peple /1 am aferde god sholde plaghe me.
(B^gSjAy cosyn be not aferd’ er I shold suffre you in this sorovv
mgmi knowe the way to rome wel. I vnderstande me on this
E^agf werke. I am called ther mertyne the bisshops clerke.
and am wel byknowen there. I shal do syte the archedeken
and take a plee ayenst hym. and shal brynge with me for you
an absolucion ayenst his wil /for I knowe there alle that is for
to be doon or lefte there dwelleth symon myn eme whiche is
grete and myghty ther. who that may gyue ought/he helpeth
hym anon / ther is prentout* wayte scathe/and other/of my
frendis and alyes Also I shal take somme money with me / yf I
nede ony. the preyer is wythyeftes hardy, wyth money alleway
the right goth forth. A trewe frende shal for his frende
auenture both lyf and good / and so shal I for you in your right
Cosyn make good chere I shal not reste after to morow
til I come to rome/and I shal solycyte your maters/And
goo ye to the court as sone as ye may/all your mysdedes /
and tho synnes that haue brought you in the grete sentence
and curse/I make you quyte of them and take them in
my self/ whan ye come to the court ye shal fynde there
rukenawe my wyf/her two susters andmythre chyldren and
many mo of our lignage / dere cosyn speke to them hardely / my
wyf his sondrely wyse / and wil gladly do somme what for her
frendis / who that hath nede of helpe shal fynde on her grete
frendship/one shal alway sekeon his frendis/thaugh he haue
angred them/for blood must krepe/where it can not goo/
And yf so be that ye be so ouer chargyd that ye may haue
no right/thenne sende to me by nyght and day to the courte
of rome / and late me haue knowleche therof / and alle tho
that ben in the lande is it kynge or quene / wyf or man I shall
brynge then alle in the popes curse/and sende there an
Inderdicte that noman shal rede ne syngen ne crystene
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W. Cnxton The Cardinal of Pure Gold & his Concubine .1 71
June 1481.
chyldren / ne burye the deede ne receyue sacramente / tyl that
ye shal haue good ryght/Cosyn this shal I wel gete/for the
pope is so sore old that he is but lytil sette by/And the
cardynal of pure gold hath alle the myght of the court /
he is yonge and grete of frendis he hath a concubyne/whom
he moche loueth / And what she desyreth that geteth she
anone / see cosyn / she is myn nece / and I am grete and may
doo moche with her in suche wyse/what I desyre/I faylle
not of it /but am alway furtherd therin / wherfore cosyn byd
my lord the kyng that he doo you right /1 wote wel he wil
not warne you / for the right is heuy ynough to euery man /
Y lord the kyng whan I herde this I lawhed/and wyth
grete gladnescamhether and haue toldyou alle trouthe/
yf ther be onyin this court that canleye on me ony other
mater wyth good witnesse and preue it as ought to be to a noble
man/late me thenne make amendes acordyng to the lawe /
and yf he wil not leue of[f J herbi / thenne sette me day and feld
and I shal make good on hym also ferre as he be of as good
birthe as i am and to me lyke / and who that can wyth fyghtyng
gete the worship of the felde/late hym haue it/this right
hath standen yet hetherto. And I wil not it sholde be broken
by me. the lawe and right doth noman wrong/
H Lle the beestis both poure and riche were alle stylle whan
the foxe spak so stoutly / the cony laprel and the roek
were so sore afeide that they durste not speke’ but
pyked and stryked them out of the court bothe two. and whan
they were a room fer in the playne they saide. god graunte that
this felle murderare may fareeuyl.he can bywrappe and couere
his falshede. that his wordes seme as trewe as the gospel herot
knoweth noman than we. how shold we brynge wytnesse. it is
better that we wyke and departe* than we sholde holdea felde
and fyghte with hym’ he is so shrewde. ye[a] thaugh ther of vs
were fyue we coude not defende vs. but that he shold sle vs alle.
Isegrym the wulf and bruyn the here /were woo in hem
self whan they sawe thise tweyne rume the court /
He kinge sayde/yf ony man wil complayne late hym
come forth/and we shal here hym* yesterday camen
here so many where ben they now Reynart is here/
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72 [The King charges Reynard as to Kywert. w.'&‘xt£a
June 1481.
H He foxe saide. my lord thcr ben many that complayne /
that and yf they sawe their aduersarye they wold be
stylle and make no playnte / witnes now of laprel the
cony and Corbant the roek / whiche haue complayned on me to
yow in my absence / but now that I am comen in your presence
they flee away / And dar not abyde by theyr wordes / yf men
shold byleue false shrewes/it shold do moche harme and
hurte to the good men / as for me it skylleth not Neuertheles
my lord yf they had by your commandement axed of me
forgyfnes/how be it they haue gretly trespaced / yet I had for
your sake pardoned and forgyue them / for I wil not be out of
charyte/ne hate ne complayne on myne enemyes / but I
sette alle thyng in goddes hand he shall werke and auenge
it as it plesyth hym.
H He kynge sayde reynart /me thynketh ye be greuyd as
ye saye / ar ye withinforth as ye seme outward/Nay
it is not so cleer ne so open nowher nyghe / as ye here
>aue shewed /1 muste saye what my gryef is / whiche towcheth
your worship and lyf/ that is to wete/that ye haue don a
foule and shameful trespaas / whan I had pardonned you alle
your offends and trespacis/and ye promysed to goo ouer the
see on pylgremage / And gaf to you male and staf / And after
this ye sente me by bellyn the ramme the male agayn and
theryn kywarts heed/how myght ye do amore reprouable
trespaas /how were ye so hardy to dore to me doo suche a
shame/is it not euyl don to sende to a lorde/his seruaunts
heed/ye can not saye nay here agaynst for bellyn the ram
whiche was our chapelayn tolde vs al the mater how it
happed/suche reward as he had whan he brought vs the
message /the same shal ye haue or right shal faylle/
tho was reynart so sore aferd that he wist not what to saye /
he was at his wittes ende / and loked aboute hym pytously and
sawe many of his kyn and alyes that herde alle this but
nought they saide /he was al pale in his visage but noman
proferd hym hand ne fote to helpe hym /
the kinge said thou subtyl felaw and fals shrewe why
spekest thou not [art thou] nowe dombe.
The foxe stode in grete drede and syghed sore that alle
herde hym / But the wulf and the bere were glad herof.
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W. Caxton Rukenaw the she Ape answers for Reynard .1 73
June 1481. J ' J
$>oto name rufeenatoe anstoem for tbe fore to tfje
fepnge, capitufo rrir°.
RF^f Ame ru ^ enawe the she ape reynarts aunte was not
y | well plesyd/She was grete wyth the quene and wel
1 ^Jbelouyd/hit happed wel for the foxe that she was
jiJisiflthere. ffor she vnderstood alle wysedom/And she
durste wel speke/where as it to doo was/where euer she cam
euerich was glad of her/
she sayde my lord the kyng ye ought not to be angry whan
ye sytte in Iugement/ffor that becometh not your noblesse’
A man that sytteth in Iugement ought to put fro hym alle
wrath and angre/A lorde ought to haue dyscrescion that
shoid sytte in Iustyse/I knowe better the poyntes of the
lawe/than somme that were furryd gownes/ffor I haue
lerned many of them / and was made connying in the lawe /1
had in the popes palays of woerden a good bedde of heye /
where other beestes laye on the harde grounde and also whan
I had there to doo/I was suffred to speke/and was herd to
lore another/by cause I knewe so wel the lawe /Seneca
wryteth that a lorde shal oueral doo right and lawe/he shal
charge none to whom he hath gyuen his saufgarde to aboue
the right and lawe/the lawe ought not to halte for noman /
And euery man that stondeth here wolde wel bethynke hym
what he hath doon and bydryuen in his dayes he shoid the
better haue pacience and pyte on Reynarte/late euery man
knowe hym self / that is my counseyl / ther is none that
stondeth so surely/but otherwhyle he falleth or slydeth / who
that neuer mysdede ne synned/is holy and good and hath
no nede to amende hym / whan a man doth amys/and thenne
by counseyl amendeth it/that is humaynly/and so ought he
to doo/but away to mysdo and trespace/and not to amende
hym/that ys euyl and a deuely lyf/Merke thenne what is
wreton in the gospel Estote misericordes / be ye mercyful yet
standeth ther more/Nolite iudicare/et non iudica bimini /
deme ye noman /and ye shal not be demed/Ther standeth
also how the pharisees brought awoman taken in aduoultrye
and wold haue stoned her to deth/they axed our lord what he
said therto / he said who of yow alle is withoute synne / late
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74
[The King answers Rukenaw.
Trans, by
W. Caxton
June 1481.
hym caste the fyrste stone /tho abode noman but lefte her
there stondyng.
RRHE thynketh it is so hyere/ther be many that see a
IKjlraj gj strawe in an others [e]ye / that can not see a balke in his
ijy^jjliSowne/ there be many that deme other/and hym self
is worst of alle/thaugh one falle ofte/and at laste aryseth
vp and cometh to mercy /he is not therof dampned God
receyueth alle them that desyre hys mercy late noman
condampne another/though they wyste that he had don
amys/yet late them see theyr owne defawtes/and thenne
may they them self correcte fyrst/and thenne reynert my
cosyn shold not fare the werse for his fadre and his
graunfadre/haue alway ben in more loue and reputaconn in
this court than Isegrym the wulf or bruyn the bere with al
theyr frendis and lignage/hit hath ben here to fore an vnlyke
comparison/the wysedom of Reynart my cosyn/and the
honour and worship of hym that he hath doon and the
counseyl of them/ffor they knowe not how the world gooth/
me thynketh this court is al torned vp so doon/Thise false
shrewes flaterers and deceyuours arise and wexe grete by
the lordes and ben enhaunsed vp/And the good triewe and
wyse ben put doun/For they haue ben woned to counseylle
truly and for th [e hjonour of the kyng I can not see how this
may stonde longe /
Thenne said the kynge/dame yf he had don to yow suche
trespaas as he hath don to other it shold repente yow # Is
it wonder that I hate hym /he breketh alway my saufgarde/
haue ye not herde the complayntes that here haue ben
shewde of hym of murdre/of theefte/And of treson/haue
ye suche trust in hym/Thynke ye that he is thus good
and cleer/thenne sette hym vp on the awter and worshipe
and praye to hym as to asaynte/But ther is none in alle
the world that can saye ony good of hym / ye maye saye moche
for hym/but in thfejende ye shal fynde hym al nought/he
hath nether kyn ne wyn ne frende that wylle enterprise to
Lelpe hym he hath so deseruyd/I haue grete meruaylle of
yow/I herde neuer of none that hath felawsshippid with
hym that euer thanked hym or saide ony good of hym / sauf
yow now /but alway he hath stryked hem with his tayl/
the she ape ansuerd and said/my lord I loue hym and
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w a cax^on RUKENAW’S STORY OF The MAN AND SeRPENT.1 7*
June 1481. J
haue hym in grete chierte. And also I knowe a good dede
that he ones in your presence dyde/wherof ye coude hym
grete thanke/though now it be thus torned/yet shal the
heuyest/weye moste/a man shal loue his frende by mesure /
and not his enemye hate ouermoche / stedfastnes and
constaunce is fyttyng and behoueth to the lordes. how
someuer the world torneth. Me ought not preyse to[o] moche
the daye. tyl euen be come, good counseyl is good for hym
that wil doo ther after.
9 parable of aman tfmt DelpuereD a oerpent fro
perplofOetb. capitulo rrr°.
^VJjSjOw two yere passid cam a man and a serpent here in
Q this court for to haue Iugement. whiche was to
H ^^Djyow and youres right doubteful. The serpent stode
an hedche where as he supposed to haue gon
thorugh/but he was caught in a snare by the necke. that he
myght not escape without helpe but shuld haue lost his lyf
there, the man cam forth by. and the serpente called to hym
and cryde. and prayd the man that he wolde helpe hym out
of the snare, or ellis he muste there dye:
The man had pyte of hym and saide/yf thou promyse
to me that thou wilt not enuenyme me ne do me none harme
ne hurte I shal helpe the[e] out of this peryl /
The serpente was redy and swore a grete othe that he
now ne neuer sholde doo hym harme ne hurte’
Thenne he vnlosed hym and delyuerd hym out of the snare/
And vvente forth to gydre a good whyle/ that the serpente had
grete hongre for he had not eten a grete while to fore, and
sterte to the man and wold haue slayn hym. the man sterte
awaye and was a ferde and said / wilte thou now sle me / hast
thou forgoten the oth that thou madest to me that thou
sholdest not mysdoo ne hurte me
The serpent answerd I maye do it good / to fore al the world
that Idoo/thenedeof hongre maycause amanto brekehisoth /
The man saide yf it may be not bettre/gyue me so longe
respyte tyl we mete and fynde that may luge the mater by
right /
The serpente graunted therto/thus they wente to gydre
Digitized by t^ooQle
76 [The argument between the Serpent & Man. vFcaxtL
June 1481.
so longe that they fonde tyselyn the rauen / And slyndpere his
sonne/ there rehersed they theyr resons/
Tiselyn the rauen Iuged anon that he shold ete the man/
he wolde fayn haue eten his parte and his sone also /
The serpent said to the man / how is it now / what thynke
ye haue I not wonne /
The man saide / how sholde a robber luge this he shold
haue auayle therby/and also he is allone / ther muste be
two or thre atte leste to gydre and that they vnderstande the
right and lawe and that don/late the sentence gon/I am
neuertheles yl on ynough /
They a greed and wente forth botheto gydre so longe that
they fonde the beer and the wulf to whom they tolde theyr
mater /
And they anon Iuged that the serpent shold sle the man/
For the nede of hongre breketh oth alway/the man thenne
was in grete doubte and fere/and the serpent cam and cast
his venym at hym/but the man lepe a way from hym with
grete payne /
And said ye doo grete wronge that ye thus lye in a wayte
to slee me/ye haue no right therto/
The serpent sayde/Is it not ynough yet/hit hath ben
twyes Iuged /
ye [a] sayd the man that is of them that ben wonte to
murdre and robbe. Alle that euer they swere and promyse
they holde not/but I appele this mater in to the court to
fore our lord the kyng/And that thou mayst not forsake
And what Iugement that shal be gyuen there /1 shal obeye
and sufffre / and neuer doo the contrarye.
He here and the wulf sayden that it shold be so/And
that the serpent desired no better/They supposed yf
it shold come to fore yow / It shold goo there as they
wolde. I trowe ye be wel remembrid herof’ Tho cam they
alle to the court to fore yow/And the wulues two chyldren
cam with theyr fader. Whiche were callyd empty bely and
neuer full / by cause they wold ete of the man. ffor they
howlyd for grete hongre wherfore ye commaunded them to
auoyde your court /
The man stode in grete drede / And called vpon your
good grace and tolde how the serpente wolde haue taken
Digitized by t^ooQle
Trans, by ,
W.Caxton REYNARD SOLVES THE DIFFICULTY.] 77
June 1481.
his lyf from hym to whom he had sauyd his lyf and that
aboue his oth and promyse he wold haue deuoured hym /
The serpente answerd I haue not trespaced / And that I
reporte me hoolly vn[to] the kyng/For Idyde it to saue my
lyf/ffor nede of lyf/one may breke his oth and promyse/
My lord that tyme were ye and alle your counseyl here wyth
acombryd For your noble grace sawe the grete sorow of the
man/ And ye wold not that a man shold for his gentilnes and
kyndenes be Iuged to deth/And on that other sith hongre
and nede to saue the lyf seketh narowly to be holpen/hier
was none in al the court that coude ne knewe the right
hierof/There were somme that wolde fayn the man had be
holpen/I see them hierstondyng/I wote wel theysayde that
they coude not ende this mater/
Thenne commanded ye that reynard my neuew shold come
and saye his aduys in this mater /that tyme was he aboue
alle other byleuyd and herd in the court/And ye bad hym
gyue sentence acordyng to the best right / and we alle shal
folowe hym / For he knewe the grounde of the lawe/
reynard said my lord / it is not possyble to yeue a trewe
sentence after theyr wordes/for in here sayeng ben ofte
lesynges / But and yf I myght see the serpent in the same
paryl and nede that he was in whan the man loosed hym and
vnbonde / Thenne wyste I wel what I shold saye/And who
that wolde doo otherwise he shold mysdoo agayn[st] right/
Thenne sayd ye my lord reynard that is wel said we alle*
acorde herto / ffor noman can saye better/
Thenne wente the man and the serpente into the place wher
as he fonde the serpente / Reynart bad that the serpent shold
be vsette in the snare in lyke wyse as he was/And it was don/
Thenne sayd ye my lord/reynart how thynketh yownowj
what Iugement shal we gyue.
Thenne sayd reynart the foxe. My lord now ben they bothe
lyke as they were to fore, they haue neyther wonne ne
loste See my lord how I luge for a right also ferre as it shal
plese your noble grace, yf the man wil now lose and vnbynde
the serpent vpon the promyse and oth. that he to fore made
to hym. he may wel doo it. But yf he thynke that he for ony
thyng shold be emcombryd or hyndred by the serpent, or for
nede of hongre wold breke his othe and promyse. Thenne
luge I that the man may goo frely where hewyl. and late the
Digitized by t^ooQle
78 [RuKENAW CONCLUDES HER SPEECH. w?cLt«.
June 1481.
serpente abyde stylle bounden. like as he myght haue don at
the begynnyng. ffor he wold haue broken his oth and piomyse/
where as he helpe hym out of suche fereful peryl / Thus
thynketh me a ryghtful Iugement that the man shal haue his
fre choys / like as he to fore hadde.
|j5S§JB|0 my lord this Iugement thought yow good/and alle
IK 9jHyour counseyl whiche at that tyme were by you / and
|g^2|folewed the same / And* preysed reynardis wysedom
that he had made the man quyte and free / Thus the foxe
wysely kepte your noble honour and worship/as a triewe
seruaunt is bounde to doo to his lord/wher hath the beer or
the wulf don euer to yow so moche worship They conne wel
huylen and blasen stele and robbe/and ete fatte morsellis and
fylle theyr belyes/And thenne luge they for right and lawe
that smale theuis that stele hennys and chekyns shold be
hanged/But they hem self that stelen kyen oxen and horses/
they shal goo quyte and be lordes / And seme as though
they were wyser than salamon/Auycene or aristotiles/
And eche wil be holden hye proud / and preised of grete
dedes and hardy But and they come where as it is to
doo/they ben the firste that flee/Thenne muste the symple
goo forth to fore / And they kepe the rereward behynde /
Och my lorde these and other lyke to them be not wyse/
but they destroye towne. castel. lande and peple. They
retche not whosfe] hows brenneth. so that they may warme
them by the coles They seke alle theyr owne auayll and
synguler proffyte/But Reynart the foxe and alle his frendis
and lignage sorowen and thynke to preferre the honour
worship, fordeel and proffyte of theyr lord, and for wise
counseyl whiche ofte more prouflyteth here than pryde and
boost / This doth reynard / thaugh he haue no thanke/Atte
longe it shal be wel knowen/who is beste and doth moste
prouffyt / My lord ye saye / that his kynne and lignage
drawe al afterward from hym /and stonde not by hym /for his
fjlshede and deceyuable and subtyl touchis/I wolde an other
had sayde that/ther sholde thenne suche wrake be taken
therof/ that hym myght growle that euer he sawe hym/But
my lorde we wyl forbere you/ye maye saye your playsir/and
also I saye it not by yow / Were ther ony that wolde bedryue
ony thyng ayenst yow with wordes or with werkes / hym
Digitized by CjOOQle
Trans, by ■ -i
W. Ca»«in RUKENAW SUMMONS REYNARD S FRIENDS.] 79
June 1481.
wold we soo doo to/that men shold saye we had ben there/
Ther as fyghtyng is / we ben not woned to be aferd* My
lorde by your leue I may wel gyue you knoweleche of
reynardis frendis and kynne. ther ben many of them that for
his sake and loue wille auenture lyf and good. I know
my self for one. I am a wyf. I shold yf he had nede sette
my lyf and good for hym also I haue thre ful waxen children
which ben hardy and stronge/whom I wold alle td gydre
auenture for his loue. rather than I shold see hym destroyed/
yet had I leuer dye than I sawe them myscarye to fore myn
eyen. so wel loue I hym.
ftHfucbe ben frenDes ant) fegnne unto iReynatB tbe
fore, capitulo rrri°.
j“2?£™SjHe fyrste chylde is named byteluys. whiche is
K 43 l moc k c cherysshyd and can make moche sporte and
gagjSgame / wherfore is gyuen to hym the fatte trenchours
|2sLElfi|i ari d nioche other good mete whiche cometh wel to
prouffyt of fulrompe hys brother/and also my thyrde chylde
is a doughter and is named hatenette / she can wel pyke
out lyce and netis out of mens heedis/thise thre ben to
eche other tryewe / wherfor I loue them wel /
dame rukenawe called hem forth and sayde / welcome my dere
chyldren to me forth and stande by reynard your dere neuew /
Thenne sayde she / Come forth alle ye that ben of my kynne
and reynarts / and late us praye the kynge that he wille doo
to reynart ryght of the lande /
Tho cam forth many a beest anon / as the squyrel / the
musehout/the fychews/the martron/the beuer wyth his wyf
ordegale / the genete / the ostrole / the boussyng / and the fyret /
thyse tweyne ete as fayne palayl as doth reynart / The oter
and pantecroet his wyf whom I had almoste forgoten/yet
were they to fore wyth the beuer enemyes to the foxe / but
they durst not gaynsaye dame rukenawe / for they were aferd
of her She was also the wysest of al his kynne of counseyl
and was moste doubted / Ther cam also mo than xx other
by cause of her for to stande by R[e]ynard/Ther cam also
dame atrote with her ij sustres / the wesel / and hermell the
asse / the backe / The watreratte and many moo to the nombre
of xl/whiche alle camen and stoden by reynard the foxe/
Digitized by v^ooQle
8o [Reynard thought, GOD thank mine aunt!
Trans, by
W. Caxion
June 1481.
IgjSjFgY lord the kyng saide rukenawe come and see hier yf
Rft(H a reynart haue ony frendis / here may ye see / we ben your
| qML |S trewe subgettis whiche ffor yow wold auenture both
lyf and good yf ye had nede / Though ye be hardy myghty
and stronge/Oure welwyllyd frendship can not hurte you/
late reynard the foxe wel bethynke hym vpon thise maters
that ye haue leyd ayenst hym /And yf he can not excuse
them / thenne doo hym right we desire no better / And this by
right ought to noman be warned /
The quene thenne spack. this saide I to hym yesterday/
But he was so fyers and angry that he wold not here it.
the lupaerd saide also. Syre ye may luge no fertherthan your
men gyue theyr verdyte. ffor yf ye wold goo forth by wyl and
myghte that were not worshipful ffor your estate here
allewaye bothe partyes and thenne by the bqste and wysest
counseyl gyue Iugement discretly acordyng to the beste right.
the kynge saide. this is al trewe’ but I was so sore meuyd whan
I was enformed of kywarts deth and sawe his heed, that I was
hoot and hasty. I shal here the foxe. can he answere and
excuse hym of that is leyd ayenst hym. I shal gladly late hym
goo quyte. And also atte requeste of his good frendis and kynne.
Reynart was glad of thise wordis. and thoughte god thanke
myn aunte* She hath the rys doo blosme aagayn’ She
hath wel holpen me forth now. I haue now a good foot to
daunse on. I shal now loke out of myne eyen. And brynge
forth the fayrest lesyngis that euer man herde. and brynge my
self out of this daunger.
footo tfje fore topfo subtplte ercuseb bpm for foe
Uctb of feptoatt foe bate ant) of alle ofoer maters foat
toere lepue apenst bpm aifo boto topfo fftaterpng gate
agapn bis pees of foe ftpnge. capitulo rrrij°.
B EJJlHenne spak reynart the foxe and saide/ Alas what
jjgttsaye ye is kywart deed/and where is bellyn the
BHramme what brought he to yow/whan he cam
Sfljagayn / ffor I delyuerd to hym thre[e] iewellis/1 wold
fayn knowe where they ben be comen / That one of hem shold
he haue gyuen to yow my lord the kynge / And the other ij
to my lady the quene/
Digitized by v^ooQle
wTcaxton Reynard’s fairest lies! The jewels.] 8i
June 1481.
The kynge saide/bellyn brought vs nought ellis but
kywarts heed/lyke as I saide you to fore/wherof I toke on
hym wrake /1 made hym to lose his lyf / flfor the foule kaytyf
said to me /that he hym self was of the counseyl of the
lettres makyng that were in the male /
Alas my lord is this very trouthe / woo to me kaytyf that euer
I was born sith that thise good Iewellis be thus lost myn
herte wil breke for sorowe /1 am sory that I now lyue / what
shal my wyf saie whan she hereth herof / she shal goo out of
her wytte for sorow /1 shal neuer also Ionge as I lyue haue
her frendship she shal make moche sorowe whan she hereth
therof/
The she ape saide Reynard dere neuew/what prouffyteth
that ye make al this sorowe late it passe/And telle vs what
thise Iewellis were / parauenture we shalle fynde counseyl to
haue them agayn yf they be aboue erthe Mayster akeryn shal
laboure for them in his bookis/and also we shal curse for
them in alle chirchys vnto the tyme that we haue knowleche
wher they been / They maye not be loste /
Nay aunte thynke not that/ffor they that haue them
wyl not lightly departe fro them, ther was neuer kynge
that euer gaf so riche Iewellis as thise be/Neuertheles
ye haue somwhat wyth your wordes easyd myn herte and
made it lighter than it was /Alas loo here ye may see how he
or they to whomme a man trusteth moost is ofte by hym or
them deceyuyd / thaugh I shold goo al the world thorough
and my lyf in auenture sette therfore /1 shal wyte wher thise
Iewellis ben becomen.
I Yth a dissymylyd and sorouful speche saide the foxe
herken ye alle my kynne and frendys /1 shal name to
llyow / thise Iewellis what they were / And thenne may
ye saye that I haue a grete losse/that one of them was a
rynge of fyn gold/and within the rynge next the fyngre were
wreton lettres enameld with sable and asure and ther were
thre hebrews names therin /1 coude not my self rede ne spelle
them /for I vnderstonde not that langage/but maister abrion
of tryer he is a wyse man / he vnderstandeth wel al maner of
langages and the vertue of al maner herbes / and ther is no
beest so fiers ne stronge but he can dompte hym/for yf he
see hym ones he shal doo as he wyl / And yet he bileueth not
Eng. Sc//. L/b . No. 1 . n
Digitized by t^ooQle
82 [Reynard's feigned jewels. A gold ring.
Trans, bv
W. Caxt«>n
June i 4 bi.
on god/He is a Iewe/The wysest in connyng and specially
he knoweth the vertue of stones. I shewde hym ones this
rynge/he saide that they were tho thre names that seth
brought out of paradys whan he brought to his fadre Adam
the oyle of mercy /And who someuer bereth on hym thise
thre names/he shal neuer be hurteby thondre ne lyghtnyng*
ne no witchecraft shal haue power ouer hym ne be tempted
to doo synne / And also he shal neuer take harm by colde
thaugh he laye thre wynters longe nyghtis in the feelde /
thaugh it snowed stormed or frore neuer so sore/so grete
myght haue thise wordes / wytnes of maister abrion / withoute
forth on the rynge stode a stone of thre maner colours/the
one part was lyke rede cristalle/and shoon lyke as fyre had
ben therin/in suche wyse that yf one wold goo bynyght/
hym behoued non other lighte for the shynyng of the stone
made and gaf as grete a lyghte as it had ben mydday/That
other parte of the stone was whyte and clere as it had ben
burnysshid / Who so had in his eyen ony smarte or sorenes /
or in his body ony swellyng/or heed ache/or ony sykenes
withoutforth yf he stryked this stone on the place wher the
gryef is/he shal anon be hole/or yf ony man be seke in his
body of venym/or ylle mete in his stomack/of colyk /
stranguyllyon / stone / fystel or kanker or ony other sekenes /
sauf only the very deth late hym leye this stone in a litle
watre/And late hym drynke it/and he shal forthwyth be
hole and al quyte of his seknessis / Alas said the foxe
we haue good cause to be sory to lese suche a Iewel /
fforthermore the thirde colour was grene lyke glas / But
ther were somme sprynklis therin lyke purpure/the maister
told for trouthe / that who that bare this stone vpon
hym shold neuer be hurte of his enemye / and that noman
were he neuer so stronge and hardy that myght mysdoo
hym / and where euer that he fought he shold haue vyctorye
were it by nyght or by daye also ferre as he behelde it
fastyng / and also therto where someuer he wente and in what
felawship /he shold be bylouyd / though they hadde hated hym
to fore / yf he had the ring vpon hym / they shold forgete theyr
angre as sone as they sawe hym/Also though he were al
naked in a felde agayn an hondred armed men / he shold be
wel herted and escape fro them with worship/but he muste
be a noble gentle man/and haue no chorles condicions/ffor
Digitized by t^ooQLe
w ra o;»ion The feigned jewels. A mirkor, and a come.] 83
June 1481.
thenne the stone had no myght/and by cause this store was
so precious and good /1 thought in myself that I was n< t able
ne worthy to here it/and there fore i sente it to my dere lord
the kyng/for i knowe hym for the moste noble that now
lyueth/and also alle our welfare and worship lyeth on hym /
and for he shold be kepte fro alle drede nede and vngheluck.
ipVgjBj Fonde this rynge in my fadres tresour / and in the same
K9 |Hp^ ace I tokeaglasseoramirrour and acombe whiche my
Krfcv3|i.,yf wold algates haue/a man myght wondre that sawe
thise Iewellis/I sent thyse to my lady the quene/for I haue
founden her good and gracious to me / this Combe myght not
beto[o]mochepreysed/Hitwasmadeof theboneof aclenenoble
beest named Panthera/whiche fedeth hym bytwene the grete
Jnle and erthly paradyse/he is so lusty fayr and of colour/
that ther is no colour vnder the heuen/but somme lyknes is
in hym/therto he smelleth so swete/that the sauour of hym
boteth alle syknessis and for his beaute and swete smellyng
all other beestis folowe hym /for by his swete sauour they
ben heled of alle syknessis/this panthera hath a fair boon
brode and thynne/whan so is that this beeste is slayn al
the swete odour restid in the bone which can not be broken
ne shal neuer rote ne be destroyed by fyre/by water/ne by
smytyng / hit is so hardy ty[g]ht and faste / and yet it is lyght of
weyght/ The swete odour of it hath grete myght /that who
that smelleth it sette nought by none other luste in the world
and is easyd and quyte of alle maner diseases and Infirmytes /
And also he is ioconde and glad in his herte/this combe
is polysshid as it were fyne syluer/and the teeth of it be
small and straite/And bytwen the gretter teeth and the
smaller is a large felde and space where is coruen mrny an
ymage subt[i]lly made and enameld aboute with fyn gold /
the felde is checked with sable and siluer/ enameld with cybore
and asure/And ther in is th[e hjistorye how venus Juno and
pallas strof for th[e] apple of gold/whiche eche of them wold
haue had/whiche contrauersye was sette vpon parys/that he
shold gyue it to the fayrest of them thre.
Arys was that tyme an herde man and kepte his faders
beestis and sheep withoute troye/whan he had
resceyuid th[e]apple/Iuno promysedto hymyf hew olde
Digitized by t^ooQle
84
[The carvings on the feigned comb.
Trans, by
W. Caxton
June 1481.
luge that she myght haue th[e]apple/he shold haue the moste
richesse of the world / pallas said yf she myght haue th[e]apple
she wold gyue hym wysedom and strengthe and make hym
so grete a lorde that he shold ouercome alle his enemyes /
and whom he wold / venus saide what nedest thou richesse or
strengthe/art not thou pryamus sone/and hector is thy
brother whiche haue al asye vnder their power / art not thou
one of the possessours of grete troye / yf thou wylt gyue to
me th[e]apple i shal gyue the[e] the richest tresourof the world
and that shal be the fayrest woman that euer had lyf on
erthe/ne neuer shal none be born fairer than she/thenne
shal[t] thou be richer than riche/And shal clymme aboue al
other/ffor that is the tresourthat noman can preyse ynough /
for honest / fair and good women can put a way many a sorow
fro the herte / they be shamefast and wyse / and brynge a man
in very Ioye and blysse/Parys herde this venus whiche
presented hym this grete Ioye and fair lady and prayd her
to name this fayr lady / that was so fair and where she was /
venus saide / it is helene kynge menelaus wyf of grece/ther
lyueth not anobler. richer, gentiller. ne wyser wyf in al the
world /Thenne parys gaf to her th[e] apple and said that she
was fayrest /how that he gate afterward helene by the helpe of
venus and how he brought her in to troye and wedded her / the
grete loue and ioly lyf that they had to gydre / was al coruen
in the felde euery thyng by hym self/and the storye wreton.
Ow ye shal here of the mirrour/the glas that stode
theron was of suche vertu that men myght see therin /
all that was don within a myle / of men of beestis and
of al thynge that me wold desire to wyte and knowe/and
what man loked in the glasse had he ony dissease / of prickyng
or motes/smarte or perles in his eyen he shold be anon
heled of it/Suche grete vertu had the glas/is it thenne
wondre yf I be meuyd and angry for to lose suche maner
Iewellls. The tree in whiche this glas stode was lyght and
faste and was named cetyne/hit sholde endure euerer it wold
rote or wormes shold hurte it/and therfore kynge salamon
seelyd his temple wyth the same wode withynforth / Men
preysed it derrer than fyn gold/hit is like to tre of hebenus/
of whiche wode kynge Crompart made his hors of tree for
loue of kynge morcadigas doughter that was so fayr/whom
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W.Caxton THE HANDLE TO THE FEIGNED MIRROR. 8*
June 1481. **
he had wende for to haue wonne / That hors was so mad j
within/that w[h]o someuer rode on hit yf he wolde/he shold
be within lesse than on hour/an hondred myle thens/And
that was wel preuyd ffor cleomedes the kynges sone wolde
not byleue that/That hors of tree had suche myght and
vertue/He was yonge lusty and hardy / And desyred to doo
grete dedes of prys for to be renomed in this world/Andleep
on this hors of tree / Crompart torned a pynne that stode on his
brest / And anon the horse lyfte hym vp and wente out of the
halle by the wyndowe and er one myght saye his pater nostcr/
He was goon more ten myle [a]waye cleomedes was sore aferd
and supposed neuer to haue torned agayn/as th[e hjistorye
therof telleth more playnly/but how grete drede he had / and
how ferre that he rood vpon that horse made of the tree of
* hebenus er he coude knowe the arte and crafte how he shold
torne hym / and how Ioyeful he was whan he knewe it / and
how men sorowed for hym /and how he knewe alle this and
the ioye therof whan he cam agayn al this I passe ouer for
losyng of tyme/but the moste parte of alle cam to by the
vertue of the wode /
of whiche wode the tree that the glas stode in was made /
and that was without forth of the glas half a foot brood /
wherin stode somme strange hystoryes whiche were of gold /
of sable / of siluer/of yelow/asure and cynope / thyse sixe
colowrs were therin wrought in suche wise as it behoued /
and vnder euery hystorye the wordes were grauen and
enameld that euery man myght vnderstande what eche
historye was / After my Iugement ther was neuer myrour so
costly so lustly ne so playsaunt / in the begynnyng stode there
an horse made fatte stronge and sore enuyous vpon an herte
whiche ran in the feeld so ferre and swyftly that the hors was
angry that he ran so ferre to fore hym’ and coude not ouertake
hym* he thought he shold cacche hym and subdue hym.
though he shold suffre moche payne therfore. the horse
spack tho to a herdeman in this wyse. yf thou cowdest
taken an herte that I wel can shewe the[e] / thou sholdest haue
grete prouffyt therof. thou sholdest selle dere his homes his
skyn and his flesshe. the herdeman sayd how may I come
by hym. the hors saide sytte vpon me. and I shal bere the[e]
and we shal hunte hym til he be take* The herdeman sprange
and satte vpon the hors and sawe the herte and he rode aftei
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June 1481.
but the herte was lyght of foot and swyft. and out ran the
hors ferre they honted so ferre after hym that the horse was
wery and said to the herdeman that satte on hym. now sytte
of [f] I wil reste me /1 am al wery. and gyue me leue to goo fro
the[e]. The herdeman saide I haue arested the[e] thow mayst not
escape fro me - I haue a brydle on thy hede and sporis on my
heles thou shalt neuer haue thanke herof/I shal bydwynge
and subdue the[e] haddest thou sworn the contrarye.
see how the horse brought hym self in thraldom and was
taken in his owne nette. how may one better be taken than
by his owne propre enuye suffre hym self to betaken and
riden* ther ben many that laboure to hurte other’ and they
them seluen ben hurt and rewarded with the same
Her was also made an asse and an hound/whiche
dwelled bothe with a riche man/The man louyd his
hound wel / ffor he pleyde ofte with hym as foike doo
with houndis/the hound leep vp and pleyd with his tayl / And
lyckyd his maister aboute the mouth/this saw howdwyn the
asse / and had grete spyte therof in his herte / and said to hym
self / how may this be and what may my lorde see on his fowle
hound / whom I neuer see doth good ne proffyt / sauf spryngeth
on hym and kysseth hym / But me whom men putten to
laboure/to bere and drawe/ and doo moi;e in a weke than he
wyth his xv shold doo in a hole yere and yet sytteth he
neuertheles by hym at the table / and there eteth bones flessh
and fatte trenchours / And I haue nothyng but thystles and
nettles / And lye on nyghtes on the harde erthe and suffre many
ascorn /1 wyl no lenger suffre this /1 wylle thynke how I may
gete my lordes loue and frendship lyke as the hounde doth /
Therwyth cam the lorde/And the asse lyft vp his tayl and
sprang with his fore feet on the lordes sholdres / And blered
grennyd and songe and with his feet made two grete bules
aboute his eres / And put forth his mouth and wolde haue
kyssed the lordes mouth as he had seen the hound doon/Tho
cryde the lorde sore aferde help/help/this asse wil slee me/
Thenne cam his seruauntis with good stauis and smyten and
bete the asse so sore that he had wende he shold haue loste
his lyf/Tho retorned he to his stable and ete thistles and
nettles and was an asse as he to fore was.
In lyke wyse who so haue enuye and spyte of an others
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June 1481. J '
welfare / and were seruyd in lyke wyse / it shold be wel behoefful.
Therfor it is concluded that the asse shal ete thistelis and
netteles and bere the sacke/ though men wold doo hym
worship he can not vnderstonde it /but muste vse olde lewde
mancrs/ Where as asses geten lordshippis / there men see
selde good rewle / For they take hede of nothyng but on theyr
synguler prouffyt/yet ben they take up and rysen grete / the
more pyte is /
Er!;en ferther how my fadre and tybert the catte
wende to gydre / and had sworn by theyr trouthe that
tor loue ne hate they shold not departe. And what they
gate/they shold departe to eche the half/Thenne on atyme
they sawe hunters comyng ouer the felde with many houndes /
They leep and ronne faste fro them ward al that they myghte
as they that were aferd of theyr lyf/
Tybert said the foxe whyther shal we now beste flee/the
hunters haue espyed vs / knowe ye ony helpe my fadre trusted
on the promyse that eche made to other. And that he wolde
for no nede departe fro hym/Tybert said he/I haue a sack
ful of wyles yf we haue nede / as ferre as we abyde to gydre
we nede not to doubte hunters ne houndes /
Tybert bigan to syghe and was sore aferd / And saide /
Reynart what auayllen many wordes/I knowe but one wyle.
and theder must I too.
And tho clamme he vpon on hye tree in to the toppe vnder
the leuys /Where as hunter ne hounde myghte doo hym non
harme* And lefte my fadre allone in Ieoparde of his lyf. ffor the
hunters sette on hym the houndes alle that they coude/Men
blewe the homes and cryed and halowed the foxe / Slee and
take. Whan tybert the catte sawe that, he mocked and scorned
my fadre and said what reynart cosyn vnbynde now your
sakke wher al the wylis ben in / it is now tyme ye be so wyse
called/helpe your sell /ffor ye haue nede/
this moche muste my fadre here of hym to whom he had
most his trust on / And was almoste taken and nygh his deth
and he ranne and fledde wyth grete fere of his lyf and lete his
male slyde of[f] by cause he wold be the lighter/yet al that
coude not helpe hym for the houndes were to[o] swyft and
shold haue byten hym / But he had one auenture that ther by
he fo[u]nd an old hole / wherin he crepte / and escaped thus the
honters and houndes /
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June 1481.
Thus helde this false deceyuer tibaert his sykernes that
he had promysed / Alas how many ben there now a dayes
that kepe not theyr promyse / and sette not therby though
they breke it /And though I hatetybaert herfore/isit wonder
but I doo not sikerly/I loue my sowle to[o] wel therto/
Neuertheles yf I sawe hym in auenture and mysfalle in his
body or in hisgoodes/1 trowe hit shold not moche goo to my
herte so that another dyde it/Neuertheles I shal neyther
hate hym ne haue enuye at hym/I shal ffor goddes loue
forgyue hym yet is it not so clere out of myn herte/but a
lytyl ylle wylle to hymward abideth therin as this cometh
to my remembraunce/And the cause is that the sensualyte of
my flessh fyghteth ayenst reson.
Her stode also in that myrrour of the wulf / how he
fonde ones vpon an heth a dede hors flayn* but al
the flessh was eten thenne wente he and bote grete
morsellis of the bones that for hungre he toke thre[e] or iiij
attones and swolowed them in / ffor he was so gredy that
one of the bones stack thwart in his mouth / Wherof he had
grete payne. And was in grete fere of his lyf / He soughte al
aboute for wyse maisters and surgyens and promysed grete
yeftis for to be heled of his disease/Atte laste whan he coude
nowher fynde remedye he cam to the crane wyth his longe
necke and bille/and prayde hym to helpe hym and he wolde
loue and rewarde hym so wel that he sholde euer be the
better/The crane herked after this grete rewarde and put his
heed in to his throte and brought out the boon wyth his
bylle /
The wulf sterte a syde wyth the pluckyng/and cryde out
alas thou doost me harme / but I forgyue it the[e] / doo no more
soo /1 wolde not suffre it of an other /
The crane saide / Sir Isegrym goo and be mery for ye be al
hool now gyue to me that ye promysed
The wulf saide/wyl ye here what he sayth/I am he that
hath suffred and haue cause to playne/and he wille haue
good of me/he thanketh not me of the kyndnes that I dyde
to hym he put his heed in my mouth / and I suffred hym
to drawe it out hole without hurtyng/And he dyde to me
also harme / And yf ony hier shold haue a reward it shold be
i by ryght /
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June 1481.
Thus the vnkynde men now adayes rewarde them that doo
them good /whan the false and subtyl aryse and become
grete/thenne goth worship and prouffyt al to nought/Ther
ben many of right that ought reward and doo good to suche
as haue holpen hem in her nede/that now fynde causes and
saye they be hurte and wolde haue amendis / where they
ought to rewarde and make amendes them self / Therfore it
is said and trowthe it is / whoo that wyl chyde or chastyse /
see that he be clere hym self.
I lle this and moche more than I now can wel remembre
was made and wrought in this glasse / The maister that
ordeyned it/was aconnyng man and a profounde clerk
in many sciencis / And by cause thise Iewells were ouer good
and precious for me to kepeand haue / Therfore I sente them
to my dere lord the kynge and to the quene in presente /
Where ben they now that gyueto theyr lordes suche presentes /
The sorowe that my ij chyldren made whan I sente away the
glasse was grete for they were woned to loke therin and see
them self how theyr clothyng and araye bycam them on their
bodyes / O alas I knewe not that kywart the hare was so nyghe
his deth whan I delyueryd hym the male with this iewellis /
I wiste not to whom I myght better haue taken them, though
It shold haue coste me my lyf. than hym and bellart the
ramme/They were two of my best frendis/ Oute alas I crye
vpon the murderar/I shal knowe who it was. though I shold
renne thurgh al the world to seke hym. ffor murdre abydeth
not hyd. it shal come out perauenture he is in this companye
that knoweth where kywart is bicomen. though he telleth it
not. ffor many false shrewys walke wyth good men. fro whom
noman c?n kepe hym* they knowen theyr craft so wel and
can wel couere their falsenes. but the most wondre that I
haue is that my lord the kyng hier saith so felly, that
my fadre nor I dyde hym neuer good / that thynketh me /
meruayl of a kynge / but ther come so many thyngis to fore
hym that he forgeteth that one wyth that other/and so
faryth by me / Dere lorde remembre not ye whan my lord
your fadre lyuyd / and ye an yonglyng of two yere were that
my fadre cam fro skole fro Monpellier/where as he had fyue
yere studyed in receptes of medycynes/he knewe al the
tokenes of the vryne as wel as his honde/And also alle the
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June 1481.
herbes and nature of them whiche were viscose or laxatyf /
he was a synguler maister in that science / he myght wel were
cloth of sylke and a gylt gyrdle / whan he cam to court he
fonde the kynge in a grete sekenes / wherof he was sory in
his hert/For he louyd hym aboue alle other lordes/The
kynge wold not forgoo hym / ffor whan he cam alle other had
leue to walke where they wold he trusted none so moche as
hym/
he said reynard I am seke and fele me the lenger the
werse /
My fadre said / my dere lord here is an vrynal / make
youre water therin and assone as I may see it I shal telle
what sekenes it is and also how ye shal be holpen/
the kynge dyde as he conseilled hym for he trusted noman
better that lyuyd/Though so were that my fader dyde not as
he shold haue don to you / But that was by counseyl of euyl
and foule beestis I had wonder therof/but it was a rasyng
ayenst his deth / he sayd my lord yf ye wyl be hole / Ye muste
ete the lyuer of a wulf of vij yere old/that may ye not leue /
or ellis ye shal deye/for your vryne sheweth it playnly /
the wulf stode ther by and said nought /
But the kynge said to hym sir ysegrym now ye here wel
that I muste haue your lyuer/yf I wil be hool/
Tho answerd the wulf and saide/Nay my lord not soo/I
wote wel I am not yet fyue yere olde /1 haue herde my moder
saie soo /
My fadre sayd / what skylleth this wordes/late hym be
opened and I shal knowe by the lyuer yf it be good for yow
or not /
And therwyth the wulf was had to kychen / and his lyuer
taken out /whiche the kynge ete and was anon al hole of
alle his sekenes/thenne thanketh he my fadre moche/and
commanded alle his houshold upon their lyuys that after that
tyme they shold calle hym mayster reynard
E abode stylle by the kynge and was byleuid of alle
thyngis/and muste allewey go by his syde/And the
kynge gaf to hym a garlond of rooses. whiche he
muste alway were on his heed, but now this is al torned’
Alle the old good thinges that he dyde. ben forgeten- And
thise couetouse and rauenous shrewys ben taken vp and sette
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June 1481.
on the hye benche and ben herde and made grete. And the
wyse folke ben put a back, by whiche thise lordes ofte lacke.
And cause them to be in moche trouble and sorowe ffbr whan
a couetous man of lowe byrthe is made a lorde* and is moche
greet and aboue his neyghbours hath power and myght /
Thenne he knoweth not hym self/ne whens he is comen And
hath no pyte on nomans hurte. ne hereth nomans requeste.
but yf he may haue grete yeftis. al his entent and desyre is
to gadre ^ood and to be gretter. O how many couetous men
ben now m lordes courtes. they flatre and smeke / and plese
the prynce for theyr synguler auayl / But and the prynce had
nede of them or their good they sholde rather suffre hym to
deye or fare right hard er they wold gyue or lene hym / They
be lyke the wulf/that had leuer the kinge had deyed than
he wolde gyue hym his lyuer/Yet had I leuer er that the
kynge or the quene shold lare amys/that xx suche wulues
shold lose theyr lyues/hit were also the leest losse/My
lorde al this biielle in your yougthe that my fader dyde
thus /1 trowe ye haue forgoten it /
And also I haue my self don yow reuerence worship and
courtosye/Vnroused be it/thaugh ye now thanke me but
lytyl/but parauenture ye remembred not that I shal now
saye / not to ony forwyttyng of yow / for ye be worthy alle
worship and reuerence that ony man can doo / that haue ye of
almyghty god by enheritaunce of your noble progenytours /
wherfor I your humble subgette and seruaunt am bounden to
doo to yow alle the seruyse that I can or maye /1 cam on a
tyme walkyng with the wulfe Isegrym/And we hadde goten
vnder vs bothe a swyne/And for his lowde cryyng we bote
hym to deth / and syre ye cam fro ferre out of a groue ayenst
vs. ye salewed vs frendly and saide we were welcome, and
that ye and my lady the quene whiche cam after yow hadde
grete hongre. and had nothyng for to ete/and prayd vs for to
gyue yow parte of our wynnyng/ Isegrym spack so softe that
a man vnnethe myght here hym. but I spack out and saide.
ye[a] my lord with a good will, though it were more we wil
wel that ye haue parte And thenne the wulf departed as he
was wont to doo/departed and toke that on half for hym
self/And he gaf yow a quarter, ffor yow and for the quene/
That other quarter he etc and bote as hastely as he myghte /
bicause he wolde ete it allone/And he gaf to me but half
the longes that I pray god that euyl mote he fare.
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June 1481.
[Hus shewde he his condicions and nature/ er men
I shold haue songen a Credo ye my lord had eten your
I part/And yet wold ye tayn haue had more/fforye
were not ful / And bicause he gaf yow no more ne profred
yow/Ye lyft vp your right fote and smote hym bytwene the
eris that ye tare his skynne ouer his eyen / and tho he myght
no lengre abyde but he bledde/howled and ran away and
lefte his part there lye / Tho said ye to hym haste yow
agayn hether and brynge to vs more /And here after see
better to how ye dele and parte/Thenne saide I my lord yf
it please yow I wylle goo wyth hym /1 wote wel what ye
saide/I wente wyth hyrn/he bledde/and groned as sore as
he was al softly /he durst not crye lowde/we wente so ferre.
that we brought a calf/And whan ye saw vs come therwyth /
ye lawhyd for ye were wel plesyd / ye said to me that I was
swyft in hontyng' I see wel that ye can fynde wel whan ye
take it vpon yow/ye be good to sende forth in a nede/The
calf is good and fatte. herof shal ye be the delar I saide my
lord wyth a good wyl/The one half my lord shal be for yow.
And that other half for my lady the quene. the moghettis.
Lyuer longes and the Inward shal be fcr your chyldren/the
hed shal Isegrym the wulf haue/and I wil haue the feet*
Tho said ye Reynart who hath taught you to departe so
courtoisly/my lord said I. that hath don this preest that
sytteth her with the bloody crowne/he lost his skynne wyth
the vncourtoys departyng of the swyn. And lor his couetyse
and rauyne he hath hurte and shame
Alas ther ben many wulues now a dayes that without right
and reson destroye and ete them that they may haue the
ouerhand of / they spare neyther flesh ne blood/frende ne
enemye / what they can gete’ that take they / O woo be to that
lande and to townes’ where as the wulues haue the ouerhand /
My lord this and many other good thing haue I don for
you f that I cowde wel telle yf it were not to[o] long / of whiche
now ye remembre litil by the wordes that I herof yow. yf ye
wold al thyng ouersee wel / ye wold not saye as ye doo* I haue
seen the day / that ther shold no grete mater be concluded in
this court without myn aduyse/al be yt that this auenture is
now fallen / It myght happen yet that my wordes shal be herd
and also bileuyd as wel as an others as ferre as right wyl
for I desyre none other / ffor yf ther be ony can saye and make
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June 1481.
good by sufficient witnessis that I haue trespaced I wil abyd
al the right and lawe that may come therof* and yf ony saie
on me ony thyng of whiche he can brynge no wytnesses. Let
me thenne be rewlyd after the lawe and custome of thys court
the kynge saide Reynart ye saye resonably I knowe not
of kywarts deth more than that bellyn the Ramme brought
his heed hether In the male/iheiof I lete yow goo quyte*
ffor I haue no wytnes therof/
My dere lord said [Reynart] god thanke yow / sykerly ye doo
wel for his deth maketh me so sorowful / that me thynketh my
herte wyl breke in two /o whan they departed fro me myn herte
was so heuy / that me thought I shold haue swowned /1 wote
wel it was a token of the losse that tho was so nyghe
cornyng to me/
E Lle the moost parte of them that were there and herde
the foxes wordes of the Iewellis and how he made his
contenance and stratchid hym/had veryly supposed
that it had not be fayned but that it had be tryewe. they were
sory of his losse and mysauenture. and also of his sorowe*
The kynge and the quene had bothe pyte of hym. And badhym
to make not to[o] moche sorowe / But that he sholde endeuore
hym to seche hem. For he had so moche preysed hem. that
they had grete wyl and desyre to haue them / And by cause he
had made them to vnderstonde that he had sente these Iewellis
to them, though they neuer had them* yet they thankyd hym.
And prayd hym to helpe that they myght haue them.
He foxe vnderstode theyr menyng wel. he thought
toward them but lytyl good for al that* he said god
thanke you my lord and my lady that ye so frendly
comforte me in my sorow. I shal not reste nyght ne day ne
alle they that wyl doo ony thyng for me but Renne and praye /
Thretene and aske alle the four corners of the world / Thaugh
I shold euer seche tyl that I knowe where they ben bicomen/
and I pray you my lord the kynge/That yf they were in
suche place as I cowde not gete them by prayer / by myght
ne by request that ye wold assiste me and abide by me/ffor
it towcheth your self/ and the good is youris / And also it is
your part to doo Iustyse on thefte and murdre whiche bothe
ben in this caas/
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01 riSEGRIM CHARGES KEYNARD WITH RAPE. W. (Jaxton
* ' June 14M1.
Reynart said the kynge that shal I not leue whan ye knowe
wher they ben / M}n helpe shalbe alway redy for you /
O dere lorde this is to[o] moche presented to me/yf I had
power and myght I sholde deserue ayenst yow/
Now hath the foxe his mater fast and fayr/ffor he hath
the kynge in his hand as he wold / hym thought that he was
in better caas than it was lyke to haue be / he hath made so
many lesynges/ that he may goo frely wher he wyl without
complaynyng of ony of them alle /
Sauf of Isegrym which was to hymward angry and
dysplesyd and saide / 0 noble kynge ar ye so moche chyldyssh
that ye byleue this false and subtyl shrewe/and suffre your
self wyth false lyes thus to be deceyuyd / Of fayth it shold be
longe or I sholde byleue hym /he is in murdre and treson
al be wrapped / And he mocketh you to lore your visage /1
shal telle hym a nother tale I am glad that I see now hym
here / al his lesynges shal not a vaylle hym er he departe fro
me.
l£>oto gsegtgm t&e toulf complagneti agapn on t&e
fore, capitulo rrriu°
0 Y lord I pray you to take hede / this false theef
betraied my wyf ones fowle and dishonestly / hit was
so that in a wynters day that they wente to gyder
thurgh a grete water / and he bare / my wyf an honde
that he wold teche her take fysshe wyth her tayl / and that
she shold late it hange in the water a good while and ther
shold so moche fysshe cleue on it that foure of them shold not
conne ete it. The fool my wyf supposed he had said trouthe/
And she wente in the myre to the bely to[o] er she cam in to
the water / And whan she was in the deppest of the water, he
bad her holde her tayl / til that the fysshe were comen. she
helde her tayl so longe that it was from harde in the yse and
coude not plucke it out / And whan he sawe that, he sprange
vp after on her body. Alas there rauysshyd he and forcyd my
wyf so knauisshly that I am ashamed to telle it. she coude
not defende her self the sely beesf she stode so depe in the
myre. herof he can not saye naye. ffor I fonde hym with the
dede. for as I wente aboue vpon the banke I sawe hym
b) nethe vpon my wyf shouyng and stekyng as men doo whan
Digitized by t^ooQle
w^vJon Reynard denies the charge.] 95
June 1481.
they doo ruche werke and playe. Alas what payne suffred I
tho at my herte I had almost for sorow lost my fyue wyttes
and cryde as lowde as I mvght reynart what do ye there / and
whan he sawe me so nyghe tho leep he of[f]. and wente his
waye. I wente to her in a grete heuinesse. And wente depe in
that myre and that water er I coudebreke the yse and moche
payne suffred she er she coude haue out her taylle / and yet
leite a gobet of her tayle behynd her / And we were lyke
bothe therby to haue lost our lyues/for she galped and cryde
so lowde for the smarte that she had er she cam out / that the
men of the village cam out with stauys and byllis / with flaylis
and pykforkes / And the wyuis wyth theyr distauis / and cryed
dyspytously sle sle / and smyte doun right /1 was neuer in my
lyf so aferde / ffor vnnethe we escape / we ran so fast that we
swette ther was a vylayne that stake on vs wyth a pyke /
whiche hurted vs sore he was stronge and swyfte a fote / hadde
it not be nyght / Certaynly we had ben slayn/The fowle olde
que[a]nes wold fayne haue beten vs/they saide that we had
byten theyr sheep/They cursed vs with many a curse/Tho
cam we in a felde ful of br*me and brembles there hydde we
vs fro the vylaynes/ And ttiey durst not folowe vs ferther by
nyght/but retorned home agayn See my lorde thys fowle
mater/this is murdre/rape/and treson/whiche ye ought to
doo lustyce theron sharply.
LvMaEynard answerd and said / yf this were trewe / it shold
In Pv23!goto[o] nyghe myn honour and worship/god forbede that
[EiaJyjiit shold be founde trewe / hit is wel trewe that I taught
her how she [sjholde in a place catche fysshe / and shewde her
a good way for to goo ouer in to the water without goyng in
to the myre / But she ranne so desyrously whan she herde me
name the fyssh/That she nether way ne path helde/But
wente in to the yse wherein she was forfrorn/And that was
by cause she abode to[o] longe she had fissh ynough yf she
coude haue be plesyd wyth mesure it falleth ofte / who that
wold haue all/leseth alle/Ouer couetous was neuer good/
For the beest can not be satisfyed / And whan I sawe her in
the yse so faste/I wente to haue holpen her/and heef and
shoef and stack here and there to haue brought her out / But
it was al payne loste / ffor she was to[o] heuy for me / Tho cam
ysegrym and sawe how I shoef and stack and dyde al my
Digitized by CjOOQle
g6 [Reynard and Erswynd at the well. w. Caxton
June 1481.
beste and he as a fowle chorle* fowle and rybadously
sklaundryth me wyth her. as thyse fowle vnthriftes ben
wonte to doo* But my dere lord it was none otherwyse. he
belyeth me falsely parauenture his eyen daselyd as he loked
from aboue doun. he cryde and cursed me and swore many
an oth I shold dere aby[d]e it / whan I herde hym so curse and
thretene /1 wente my waye / and lete hym curse and menace
til he was wery/And tho wente he and heef and shoef and
halpe his wyf out/and thenne he leep and ran and she
also for to gete them an hete and to warme them / or ellis
they shold haue deyed for colde / And what someuer I haue
saide a fore or after/that is clerely al trouthe/I wolde not
for a thousand marke of fyn gold lye to yow one lesyng it
were not fyttyng for me / what someuer falle of me I shal saye
the trouthe/lyke as myn elders haue alway don / syth the
tyme that we fyrst vnderstode reson / and yf ye be in doubte
of ony thynge that I haue said otherwyse than trouth/gyue
me respyte of viij dayes that I may haue counseyl/and I
shal brynge suche Informacion wyth good tryewand suffycient
recorde/that ye shal alle your lyf duryng truste and byleue
me/and so shal all your counseyl also/what haue I to doo
wyth the wulf/hit is to fore clerly ynowh shewde that he is
a foule vylaynous kaytyf/ and an vnclene beest / Whan he
deled and departed the swyn / So is it now knowen to you
alle by hys owen wordes that is a deffamer of wymmen as
moche as in hym is ye may wel marke euerychone / Who
shold luste to do that game to one so stedfast a wyf beyng
in so grete peryll of deth now aske ye hys wyf/yf it be so as
he sayth / yf she wyl saye the trouthe I wote wel / she shal
saye as I doo /
Tho spack erswynde the wulfis wyf/ Ache felle reynart/
noman can kepe hym self fro the[e] / thou canst so wel vttre thy
wordes and thy falsenes and reson sette forth/but it shall be
euyl rewarded in the ende / How broughtest thou me ones in to
the welle where the two bokettys henge by one corde rennyng
thurgh one polley whiche wente one vp and another doun/
thou sattest in that one boket bynethe in the pytte in grete
drede /1 cam theder and herde the[e] syghe and make sorowe/
And axed the[e] how thou earnest there / thou saidest that thou
haddest there so many good fysshes eten out of the water that
thy bely wolde breste/I said telle me how I shal co ne to
Digitized by t^ooQle
W. Caxton Reynard, Isegrim, and the SheApb .1 07
the[e]/Thenne saidest thou aunte sprynge in to that boket that
hangeth there / and ye shal come anon to me /1 dyde so / and
I wente dounward / and ye cam vpward tho was I alle angry/
thou saidest thus fareth the world that one goth vp / and
another goth doun/tho sprang ye forth and wente your
waye and I abode there allone syttyng an hole day sore an
hongryd and a colde/And therto had I many a stroke er I
coude gete thens /
Aunte sayd the foxe/thaugh the strokes dyde youharme I
had leuer ye had them than I / ffor ye may better bere them/
for one of vs must nedes haue had them /1 taught yow good/
wyl ye vnderstande it and thynke on it/that ye another
tyme take better hede and bileue noman ouer hastely / is he
frende or cosyn / for euery man seketh hiS owne prouffyt /They
be now fooles that do not soo/And specyally whan they be
in Ieopardye of theyr lyues.
9 fapr parable of tbe fore anb tbe toulf* €a° rrruu°
I Y lord said dame Erswyn I pray yow here how he
can blowe with alle wyndes/And how fayr bryngeth
he his maters forth/
Thus hath he brought me many tyme in scathe
and hurte said the wulf/he hath ones bytrayed me to the
she ape myn aunte/where I was in grete drede and fere /for
I lefte there almost myn one ere/yf the foxe wil telle it how
it byfel/I wyl gyue hym the fordele therof/for I can not
telle it so wel / but he shal beryspe me /
wel said the foxe I shal telle it wythout stameryng I shal
saye the trouth/I praye yow herken me/he cam in to the
wode and complayned to me / that he had grete hongre ffor
I sawe hym neuer so ful / but he wold alway haue had fayn
more/I haue wonder where the mete becometh that he
destroyeth/I see now on his contenance that he begynneth
to grymme for hongre / Whan I herde hym so complayne I
had pyte of hym /And I saide I was also hongry / thenne
wente we half a day to gydre and fond nothyng/tho whyned
he and cryed/and said he myght goo no ferther Thenne
espyed I a grete hool standyng in the myddys vnder an
hawe whiche was thyck of brembles/and I herde a russhyng
Eng. sch. Lib. No. 1 , 8
Digitized by CjOOQle
o m 1 rans. by
98 [Reynard uses fair speech with the w . Caxion
June 1481.
therin I wist not what it was/thenne said I goo therin and
loke yf ther be ony thyng ther for vs/I vvote wel ther
is somwhat/tho saide he cosyn I wolde not crepe in to that
hole for twenty pound but I wist fyrst what is therin / me
thynketh that ther is some perylous thyng but I shal abyde
here vnder this tree/yf ye wil goo therin to fore/but come
anon agayn/And late me wete what thyng is therin/Ye can
many a subtylte and can wel helpe your self and moche
better than I. See my lord the kynge/ Thus he made me
poure wight to goo to fore in to the daunger/and he whiche
is grete longe and stronge abode withoute and rested hym in
pees / awayte yf I dyde not for hym there.
ifcflVgfl Wold not sufffe the drede and fere that I there suffred
Bh SQfor al the good in erthe / but yf I wyste how to escape/
wente hardyly in /1 fonde the way derke / longe and
brood/Er I right in the hool cam soo espyed I a grete light
whiche cam in fro that one syde ther laye in a grete ape with
tweyne grete wyde eyen / and they glymmed as a fyre / And
she had a grete mouth with longe teeth and sharp naylles
on hir feet and on hir handes /1 wende hit had be a mermoyse/
a baubyn or a mercatte / for I sawe neuer fowler beest / and
by her laye thre of her children whiche were right fowle ffor
they were ryght lyke the moder/whan they sawe me come/
they gapeden wyde on me and were al stylle /1 was aferd /
And wold wel I had ben thens/but I thoughte I am therin /
I muste ther thurgh and come out as wel as I maye/as I
sawe her me thought she semed more than ysegrym the
wulf/ And her chyldren were more than I /1 sawe neuer a
fowler meyne/they laye on fowle heye whiche was al be
pyssed/They were byslabbed and byclagged to their eres
to[o] in her owen donge / hit stanke that I was almost smoldred
therof I durst not saye but good/and thenne I saide/
Aunte god gyue yow good daye and alle my cosyns your
fayr chyldren / they be of theyr age the fayrest that euer I
sawe O lord god how wel plese they me / how louely / how
fayr ben they eche of them for their beaute myght be a grete
kyngis sone/Of right we ought to thanke yow/that ye thus
encrece oure lygnage / Dere aunte whan I herde saye that ye
were delyuered and leyd doun I coude no lenger abyde but
muste come and frendly vysite yow /1 am sory that 1 had
not erst knowen it /
Digitized by t^ooQle
irans. oy 0 t
W.Caxton SheApE, AND IS FED TO THE FULL.] 99
June 1481.
Reynard eosyn said she ye be welcome / ffor that ye haue
found me and thus come see me I thanke yow. Dere cosyn
ye be right trewe and named right wyse in alle londes/and
also that ye gladly furthre and brynge your lignage in grete
worship/Ye muste teche my chyldren with the youris som
wysedom that they may knowe what they shal doo and leue/
I haue thought on yow/for gladly ye goo and felawship with
the good /
O how wel was I plesyd whan I herde thise wordes /
this deseruyd I at the begynnyng whan I callyd her aunte/
how be it that she was nothyng sybbe to me /(for my
right aunte is dame rukenawe that yonder standeth/Whiche
is woned to brynge forth wyse chyldren /
I saide aunte my lyf and my good is at your commandement/
and what I may doo for yow by nyght and by daye /1 wylle
gladly teche them alle that I can.
I wolde fayn haue be thens for the stenche of them, and
also I had pyte of the grete hongre that Isegrym had.
I saide aunte I shal commytteyow and your fayr chyldren
to god and take my leue/My wyf shal thynke longe after
me/
Dere cosyn saide she ye shal not departe til ye haue eten /
for yf ye dyde I wold saie ye were not kynde /
Tho stode she vp and brought me in an other hool
where as was moche mete of hertes and hyndes/roes/
fesaunts / partrychs and moche other venyson that I wondred
for whens al this mete myghte come/And whan I had eten
my bely ful she gaf me a grete pece of an hynde fro to ete
wyth my wyf and wyth my houshold / whan I come home /1
was a shamed to take it / But I myght none other wyse doo /
I thankyd her and toke my leue / she bad me I shold come
sone agayn /1 sayd I wolde
And so departed thens meryly/that I so wel had spedde/
I hasted me out / and whan I cam and sawe ysegrym whiche
laye gronyng. And I axed hym how he ferde / he said neuew
al euyll* ffor it is wonder that I lyue/brynge ye ony mete to
ete I deye for hongre. tho had I compassion of hym and
gaf hym that I had. And saued hym there his lyf* wherof
thenne thanked me gretly. how be it that he now oweth
me euyl wyl.
Digitized by t^ooQle
100
[IsEGRIM SPEAKS THE TRUTH,
Trans, by
W. Caxton
June 1481.
E had eten this vp anon, tho said he Reynard dere
cosyn what fonde ye in that hoel. I am more hongry
now than I was to fore/my teeth ben now sharped
I saide thenne / Erne haste yow thenne lyghtly into that
hool. Ye shal fynde there ynough. there lieth myn aunte
wyth her chyldren - yf ye wyl spare the trouth and lye grete
lesynges/ye shal haue there al your desire/But and ye saye
trouth/ye shal take harme/
My lord was not this ynough sayd and warned/who so
wold vnderstonde it/that al that he fonde he shold saye
the contrarye But rude and plompe beestis can not
vnderstonde wysedom / therfore hate they alle subtyl
Inuencions / ffor they can not conceyue them. Yet
neuertheles/he saide he wolde goo Inne/and lye so many
lesyngis er he sholde myshappe that all man sholde haue
wondre of it. and so wente forth in to that fowle stynkyng
hool. and fonde the marmosette. She was lyke the deuyls
doughter. and on her chyldren hynge moche fylth cloterd in
gobettis.
Tho cryde he alas me growleth of thyse fowle nyckers/
Come they out of helle. men may make deuylles a ferd
of hem. goo and drowne them that euyl mote they fare -
I sawe neuer fowler wormes. they make al myn heer to
stande right vp /
sir ysegrym said she. what may I doo therto. they
ben my chyldren. And I muste be their moder. what
lyeth that in your weye - whether they be fowl or fayr.
They haue yow nothyng coste. here hath ben one to day
byfore yow whiche was to them ny[g]he of kyn. And was
our better and wyser and he sayde that they ware fayr. who
ath sente yow hyther with thyse tydynges.
dame wyl ye wytte I wylle ete of your mete, hit is better
bestowed on me than on thyse fowle wyghtes.
She sayde hier is no mete /
he saide here is ynough.
And ther wyth he sterte with his hede toward the mete,
and wolde haue goon in to the hool wher the mete was.
But myn aunte sterte vp wyth her chyldren. and ronne to
hym wyth their sharp longe nayles so sore that the blode
ran ouer his eyen / I herde hym crye sore and howle /
to ete.
Digitized by t^ooQle
a runs, oy n . .
W.Caxton AND IS ALL TORN BY THE SHE ApE .1 IOI
June 1481.
but I knowe of no defence that he made / but that he
ran faste out of the hool/And he was there cratched and
byten / and many an hool had they made in his cote and
skyn / his visage was alle on a blood / and almost he had loste
his one ere/he groned and complayned to me sore/
thenne asked I hym yf he had wel lyed
he sayd I saide lyke as I sawe and fonde / and that was
afowle bytche wyth many fowle wyghtis/
Nay erne said I / ye shold haue said / Fayr nece how fare ye
and your fair chyldren whiche ben my welbelouid cosyns /
the wulf sayd/I had leuer that they were hanged er I
that saide /
ye erne therfore muste ye resseyue suche maner payment /
hit is better otherwhile to lye than to saye trouthe/They
that ben better/wyser and strenger than we be haue doon so
to fore vs /
See my lord the kyng thus gate he his rede coyf/Now
stondeth he al so symply as he knewe no harme/I pray
yow aske ye hym yf it was not thus / he was not fer of yf I
wote it wel*
&oto psegtpm pcofccD bis gloue to t&e core for to
fcgbt toptb bpnr capitulo rrro°.
|He wulf sayd I may wel forbere your mockes and
your scornes and also your felle venymous wordes
strong theef that ye ar/ye saide that I was almost
dale for hungre/when ye helpe me in my nede /
that is falsely lyed. for it was but aboon that ye gaf to me /
ye had eten away alle the flessh that was theron/And ye
mocke me and saye that I am hongry here where I stande /
that toucheth my worship to[o] nygh/what many a spyty
worde haue ye brought forth wyth false lesyngis/And that I
haue conspyred the kynges deth fro the tresour that ye haue
seid to hym / is in hulsterlo / And ye haue also my wyf shamed
and sklandred / that she shal neuer recoure it / and I shold
euer be disworshipped therby yf I auengyd it not /I haue
forborn yow longe/but now ye shal not escape me /1 can not
make her of greet preef/But I saye here to fore my lord
and to fore alle them that ben here that thow art a false
Digitized by t^ooQle
vr* t % i rans Dy
102 [Reynard takes up Isegrim s gage, w.caxton
June 1481.
traytour and a morderar/And that shal I proiie and make
good on thy body wythin lystes in the felde. and that
body ayenst body And thenne shal our stryf haue an ende /
And therto I caste to the[e] my gloue/and take thou it vp/1
shal haue right of the[e] or deye therfore /
Reynard the foxe thought how come I on this Campyng /
we ben not bothe lyke /1 shal not wel conne stonde ayenst
this stronge theef / all my proof is now come to an ende.
footo foe fore took bp foe gfoue. 9nD boto foe ftpnge
sette to foem Dape ana felDe for to come anb boo
foeptbataplle capitulo rrrbj°
I Et thought the foxe I haue good auauntage. the
clavves of his for feet ben of[f]. and his feet ben yet
sore therof. whan for my sake he was vnshoed. he
shal be somwhat the weyker.
Thenne sayde the foxe who that saith that I am a traytour
or a morderar. I saie he lieth falsely and that art thou specyally
ysegrym/thou bryngest me/there as I wolde be/this haue I
ofte desyred/lo here is my plegge/that alle thy wordes ben
falls/And that I shal defende me /and made good that thou
best /
The kynge receyuyd the plegges/and amytted the bateyll
And asked borowes of them bothe / that on the morn they
shold come and performe theyr batayll / and doo as they ought
to doo / Thenne the bere and the catte were borowes for the
wulf/ And for the foxe were borowys grymbert the dasse/and
byteluys*
!t>oto rukcnatoe foe sbe ape counseplleb foe fore
boto be sboiuc bpbaue bpm in foe fefoe apenst foe
toulf Capitulo rrruij 0
He she ape saide to the foxe / Reyner neuew/See
that ye take hede in your batayll /be colde and wyse
Your eme taught me ones a prayer that is of moche
(Vertuc to hym that shal fyghte / And a grete maister
Digitized by CjOOQle
W* Caxton Rukenaw’s counsel to Reynard.] 103
June 1481.
and a wyse clerk, and was abbot of boudelo that taughted
hym / he saide who that sayde deuoutly this prayer fastyng
shal not that day be ouercomen in batayl ne in fyghting
therfore dere neuew be not aferd /1 shal rede it ouer yow to
morow/thenne may ye be sure ynough of the wulf hit is
bettre to fyghte/than to haue the necke asondre/
I thanke you dere aunte said the foxe/The quarel that I
haue is rightful therfore I hope I shal spede wel / and that
shal gretely be myne helpe /
Alle his lygnage abode by hym al thenyght/and helpe hym
to dryue a way the tyme /
Dame rukenawe the she ape his aunte thoughte alway on
his prouffyt and fordele/And she dyde alle his heer fro the
heed to the tayl be shorn of[f] smothe / and she anoynted alle
his body wyth oyl of olyue / And thenne was his body also
glat and slyper/that the wulf sholde haue none holde on
hym / And he was round and fatte also on his body/
And she said to hym dere cosyn ye muste now drynke
moche/that to morowe ye may the better make your
vryne / but ye shal holde it in tyl ye come to the felde /
And whan nede is and tyme/so shall ye pysse ful your
rowhe tayll/and smyte the wulf therwyth in his berde/And
yf ye myght hytte hym therwyth in his eyen* thenne shal ye
byneme hym his syght/that shold moche hyndre hym/but
ellis hold alway your tayl faste bytwene your legges that he
catche yow not therby /and holde doun your eris lyeng plat
after your heed / that he holde you not therby/And see
wisely to your self/and at begynnyng flee fro his strokes.
And late hym sprynge and renne after yow/and renne to fore
where as moste dust is / and styre it wyth your feet that it
may flee in his eyen and that shal moche hyndre his syght /
And whyle he rubbeth his eyen take your auantage and
smyte and byte hym there as ye may most hurte hym /And
alle way to hytte hym wyth your tayll ful of pysse in his
visage and that shal make hym so woo /that he shal not
wyte where he is/And late hym enne after yow for to make
hym wery/Yet his feet ben sore/of that ye made hym to lose
his shooes / and though he be greet / he hath no herte/ Neuew
certaynly this is my counseyll.
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i rans. dt
104 [The night before the battle. w.caxtS.
June 14&1.
H He connyng goth to fore strengthe/ therfore see for
your self / And sette your self wysely atte defence / that
ye and we alle may haue worship therof/1 wold be
sory yf ye mysfsjhapped /1 shal teche you the wordes that your
eme mertyn taught me /that ye may ouercome your enemye /
as I hope ye shal doo wythout doubte /
therwyth she leyde her hand vpon his heed and saide these
wordes / Blaerde Shay Alphenio / Kasbue Gorfons alsbuifrio/
Neuew now be ye sure fro alle myschief and drede/and
counseyle yow that ye reste you a lytyl / for it is by the daye /
ye shal be the better dysposed / we shal awake you in al in
tyme/
aunte said the foxe I am now glad/god thanke you ye
haue don to me suche good/I can neuer deserue it fully
agayn / me thynketh ther may no thynge hurte me syth that
ye haue said thyse holy wordes ouer me /
Tho wente he and leyd hym doun vnder a tre in the grasse
and slepte tyl the sonne was rysen / tho cam the otter and
waked hym and bad hym aryse / and gaf hym a good yong
doke/and said/dere cosyn I haue this nyght made many a
leep in the water er I coude gete this yonge fatte doke /1 haue
taken it fro a fowler /take and ete it/
Reynart sayde this is good hansele / yf I refused I were a
fool/I thanke yow cosyn that ye remembre me/yf I lyue I
shal rewarde yow /
The foxe ete the doke with oute sawce or breed it sauourd
hym wel and wente wel in / And he dranke therto iiij grete
draughtis of water / Thenne wente he to the bataylle ward and
alle they that louyd hym wente wyth hym.
&oto tbe fibre cam in to tfre felDe ano fjoto tbep
fouffbten / capitulo rrrtmr
but
Han the kynge sawe reynart thus shorn and oyled
he said to hym/Ey foxe how wel can ye see for
[your self/
he wondred therof he was fowle to loke on/
the foxe said not one worde but kneled doun lowe to
th[ejerthe vnto the kynge and to the queue and stryked hym
forth in to the felde /
Digitized by t^ooQle
irnns. oy *1+ ,
w. Caxton The BEGINNING OP THE FIGHT.] 105
June 1481.
The wulf was ther redy and spack many a proud word /
the rulers and kepars of the felde was the lupaert and
the losse/they brought forth the booke/on whiche sware
the wulf that the foxe was a traytour and a morderar / and
none myght be falser than he was / and that he wolde preue
on his body and make it good / Reynart the foxe sware that
he lyed as a false knaue and a cursyd theef and that he wold
doo good on his body /
Whan this was don the gouemours of the felde/bad them
doo theyr deuoyr / Thenne romed they alle the felde sauf dame
rukenawe the she ape / she abode by the foxe and bad hym
remembre wel the wordes that she had sayd to hym / she said
see wel too / whan ye were vij yer olde ye were wyse ynowh
to goo by nyght wythout lanteme/or mone shyne/Where
yewyste to Wynne ony goode/ye ben named emong the peple
wyse and subtyl / payne your self to werke soo that ye wynne
the prys/thenne may ye haue euer honour, and worship/and
al we that ben your frendys /
he answerd my derest aunte I knowe it wel /1 shal doo my
beste and thynke on your counseyl/I hope so to doo that
alle my lignage shal haue worship therby / and myn enemyes
shame and confusion /
she sayde god graunte it yow.
tfje fore anD tfce toulf fougfjten to gpftte
ca° rrrir°
Herwyth she wente out of the felde/and lete them
tweyne goo to gydre / the wulf trade forth to the foxe
in grete wrath and opened his fore feet/and supposed
to haue taken the foxe in hem / But the foxe sprang
from hym lyghtly/For he was lyghter to fote than he/The
wulf sprange after and hunted the foxe sore/theyr frendes
stode/ withoute the lystes and loked vpon hem /The wulf
stode wyder than reynard dyde and ofte ouertoke hym / And
lyfte vp his foot and wende to haue smyten hym / but the foxe
sawe to / and smote hym wyth his rowhe tayle / Whiche he had
al be pyssed in his visage / tho wende the wulf to haue ben
plat blynde/the pysse sterte in his eyen/thenne muste he
reste for to make clene his eyen/Reyner thoughte on his
Digitized by t^ooQle
io6
[Reynard mocks Isegrim.
Trans, by
W. (Jaxton
June 1481.
fordele and stode aboue the wynde skrabbing and casting
wyth his feet the duste that it flewe the wulfis eyen ful / the
wulf was sore blynded ther wyth in suche wyse that he mus'e
leue the rennyng after hym / ffor the sonde and pysse cleuyd
vnder his eyen that it smerted so sore/that he muste rubbe
and washe it a way /
Tho cam reyner in a grete angre and bote hym thre grete
woundes on his heed wyth his teeth/and said/what is that
syr wulf/hath one there byten yow/how is it wyth yow/I
wyl al otherwyse on yow yet / abyde I shal brynge yow
fomm newe thyng / ye haue stole many a lambe and
destroyed many a symple bcest / and now falsely haue
appeied me and brought me in this trouble/al this shal I now
auenge on the[e] /1 am chosen to reward the[e] for thyn old
synnes ffor god wyl no lengersuffre the[e] in thy grete rauayn
and shrewdnes/I shal now assoylle the[e] and that shal be
good for thy sowle take paciently this penannce/for thou
shilt lyue no lenger/ the helle shal be thy purgatorye/Thy lyf
is now in my mercy/but and yf thou wilt knele doun and
aske me forgyfnes / and knowleche the[e] to be ouercomen / yet
though thou be euyl/yet I wyl spare the[e] / for my conscience
counseylleth me / I shold not gladly slee no man /
Isegrym wende wyth thyse mockyng and spytous wordes
to haue goon out of his wytte / And that dered hym so moche
that he wyste not what to saye buff ne haff/he was so angry
in his herte / The woundes that reynart had gyuen hym
bledde and smarted sore / And he thought how he myghte
best auenge it.
fTSPESjjYth grete angre he lyft vp his foot and smote the foxe
n^VNT n ^eed so grete a stroke/that he fyl to the
OAjyjground / tho sterte the wulf to[o] and wende to haue take
hym/but the foxe was lyght and wyly and roose lyghtly vp
and mette wyth hym fiersly and there began a felle bataylle
whiche dured longe / the wulf had grete spyte on the foxe as
it wel semed / he sprange after hym x tymes eche after other /
and wold fayn haue had hym faste/but h's skyn was so
slyper and fatte of the oyle that alway he escaped fro hym O
so subtyl and snelle was the foxe / that many tymes whan the
wulf wende wel to be sure of hym/he sterte thenne bytwene
his legges and vnder his bely and thenne torned he agayn and
Digitized by
Google
wT'Jion ISEURIM SMITES REYNARD TO THE GROUND.] I07
June 1481.
gaf the wulf a stroke wyth his tail ful of pysse in his eyen
that Isegrym wende he sholde haue loste his syght / and this
dyde he often tymes / And alwey whan he had so smyten hym
thenne wolde he goo aboue the wynde and reyse the duste /
that it made his eyen ful of stufs/Isegrym was woo begon /
and thought he was at an afterdele / yet was his strengthe and
myght moche more than the foxes / Reynard had many a sore
stroke of hym /whan he raught hym/They gaf eche other
many a stroke and many a byte whan they saw theyr
auauntage/And eche of hem dyde his best to destroye that
other/I wold I myght see suche abaytaylle / that one was
wyly/and that other was stronge/that one faught wyth
strengthe / and that other with subtylte.
He wulf was angry that the foxe endured so longe
ifSfl a y enst h y m y f formest feet had ben hole / the
lOJOlfoxe had not endured so longe / but the sores were so
open that he myght not wel renne/And the foxe myght
better of[f] and on than he / And also he swange his tayl wyth
pysse ofte vnder his eyen/and made hym that hym thoughts
that his eyen shold goo out /
Atte laste he sayd to hym self /1 wyl make an ende of
this bataylle/How longe shal this caytyf dure thus ayenst
me /1 am so grete /1 shold yf I laye vpon hym presse hym to
deth/hit is to me a grete shame that I spare hym so longe /
Men shal mocke and poynte me wyth fyngres to my shame
and rebuke for I am yet on the werst syde / I am sore
wounded /1 blede sore/and he drowneth me/wyth his pysse /
and caste so moche dust and sande in myne eyen / that hastely
I shal not conne see/yf I suffre hym ony lenger/I wyl sette
it in auenture/and seen what shal come therof/
wyth that he smote wyth his foot reynard on the heed
that he fyll doun to the ground And er he cowde aryse
he caught hym in his feet* and laye vpon hym as he wold
haue pressed hym to deth. Tho began the foxe to be a
ferd. and so were alle his frendis whan they sawe hym lye
vnder And on that other syde alle ysegryms frendes were
ioyeful and glad. The foxe defended hym faste wyth his
clawes as he laye vpward wyth his feet* And gaf hym many
a elope* The wulf durste not wyth his feet doo hym moche
harme but wyth his teeth snatched at hym as he wold haue
Digitized by t^ooQle
108 [Reynard’s paw in Isegrim’s mouth, w.caxton
June 1481.
byten hym. whan the foxe sawe that he shold be byten and
was in grete drede. he smote the wulf in the heed wyth his
formest clawes and tare the skynne of[f] bytwene his browes
and hys eeres. and that one of his eyen henge out. Whiche
dyde hym moche payne* he howlyd. he wepte* he cryde lowde.
and made a pyteuous noyse for the blode rann doun as it had
ben a streme
!£>oto tbe fore bepng tmber tbe toulf toptb flatetpng
toorbes gloseb bpm. that tbe fore cam to bis aboue
agapn. capitulo rl°
He wulf wyped his eyen. the foxe was glad whan
lie sawe that/he wrastled so sore/that he sprang
on his feet whyles he rubbed his eyen / the wulf was
not well plesyd therwyth alle/And smote after hym
pedand caught hym in hisarmesand helde hymfaste/
notwythstandyng that he bledde / Reynard was woo thenne /
There wrastled they longe and sore/The wulf wexe so angry
that he forgat al his smarte and payne and threw the foxe al
plat vnder hym/whiche cam hym euyl to passe /ffor his one
hand by whiche he deffended hym sterte in the fallyng in to
ysegryms throte / and thenne was he aferd to lese his hand /
The wulf sayd tho to the foxe / Now chese whether ye
wyl yelde yow as ouercome / or ellis I shal certaynly slee yow /
the skateryng of the dust / thy pysse / thy mockyng ne thy
deffence/ne alle thy false wylys/may not now helpe the[e]/
thou mayste not escape me / Thou hast here to fore don me so
moche harme and shame / and now I haue lost myne one eye /
and therto sore woundeed /
Whan reynard herde that it stode so rowme/that he shold
chese to knowleche hym ouercomen and yelde hym /Or ellis
to take the deth/ he thought the choys was worth ten marke /
And that he muste saye that one or that other/he had anon
concluded what he wold saie / and began to saye to hym
wyth fayr wordes in this wyse /
Dere erne I wyl gladly become your man wyth alle my good /
And I wyl goo for you to the holy graue / and shal gete pardon
and wynnyng for your cloistre/of alle the chyrches that ben
in the holy lande/Whiche shal moche prouffyte to your sowle
Digitized by t^ooQle
wToix^n Reynard in great danger, flatters Isegrim.] 109
June 1481.
and your elders sowles also /1 trowe ther was neuer suche a
prouffre / prouffred to ony kynge / And I shal serue you / lyke as
I shold serue our holy fader the pope /1 shal holde of you al
that I haue and euer ben your seruaunt and forth I shal make
that al my lignage shal do in lyke wyse/Thenne shal ye be a
lord a boue alle lordes / who shold thenne dare doo ony thyng
ayenst you / And furthermore what someuer I take of polaylle /
ghees / partrych or plouyer / fysshe or flesshe or what someuer
it be / therof shal ye fyrst haue the choys / and your wyf and
your chyldren / er ony come in my body / Therto I wyl alway
abydeby you/that where ye be ther shal no hurte ne scathe
come to yow/ye be strong and I am wyly/late vs abyde to
gydre / that one wyth the counseyl and that other wyth the
dede/then may ther nothyng mysfalle to vs ward/and we
ben so nygh of kynne eche to other / that of right shold be no
angre bytvvene vs /1 wold not haue foughten ayenst yow yf I
myght haue escaped / But ye appeled me fyrst vnto fyghte /
Tho muste I doo/that I not doo wold gladly/And in this
bataylle I haue ben curtoys to yow/1 haue not yet shewde
the vtterist of my myght on yow / like as I wold haue doon yf
ye had ben a straunger to me / ffor the neuew ought to spare
the erne / it is good reson and it ought so to bee / Dere erne so
haue I now doo / And that maye ye marke wel whan I ran to
for yow. myn herte wold not consente therto. ffor I myght
haue hurte yow moche more than I dyde. but I thought it
neuer ffor I haue not hurte yow ne don yow so moche harm
that may hyndre yow* sauf only that myshappe that is
fallen on your eye / ach therfore I am sory and suffre moche
sorow in my herte. I wold wel dere Erne that it had not
happed yow. But that it had fallen on me. so that ye ther
wyth had ben plesyd. how be it. that ye shal haue therby a
grete auauntage. For whan ye here after slepe ye nede not
to shette but one wyndowe. where another muste shette two.
My wyf and my children, and my lignage shal falle dounn to
your feet/to fore the kynge and to fore alle them that ye
wyl desyre and praye yow humbly/that ye wyl suffre reynart
your neuew lyue and also I shal knowleche ofte to haue
trespaced ayenst yow / and what lesynges I haue lyed vpon
yow / How myght ony lord haue more honour than I proffre
yow /1 wold for no good do this to another / therfore I praye
yow to be plesyd here wyth al
Digitized by t^ooQle
IIO [ISEGRIM SPEAKING, REYNARD GETS HIS PAW OUT. W. Caxton
June 1481.
Wote wel yf ye wolde ye myght now slee me/but
BfiSQand ye so don had/what had ye wonne/ so muste ye
EgLS3|euer after this tyme kepe yow fro my frendes and
lignage/Therfore he is wyse that can in his angre/mesure
hym self and not be ouer hasty/and to see wel what may
falle or happe afterward to hym/what man that in his angre
can wel aduyse hym certaynly he is wyse/Men fynde many
fooles that in hete hasten hem so moche/that after they
repcnte hem / and thenne it is to[o] late / but dere Erne
I trowe that ye be to[o] wyse so to doo / hit is better to haue
prys honour / reste / and pees / And many frendes that be redy
to helpe hym/than to haue shame /hurte/vnreste/ and also
many enemyes lyeng in a wayte to doo/hym harme/Also it
is lityl worship to hym that hath ouercomen aman / thenne to
slee hym/it is grete shame /not for my lyf/Thaugh I were
deed / that were a lytyll hurte.
BpHJSegrym the wulf said / Ay/theef how fayn woldest
Bh Sflthow he losed and dyscharged fro me / that here I wel
BEfiESby thy wordes / were thou now fro me on thy free feet /
Thou woldest not sette by me an egge shelle/Though thou
promysedest to me alle the world of fyn rede gold /1 wold not
late the[e] escape/I sette lytyl by the[e] and alle thy frendes
and lignage/Alle that thou hast here said is but lesyngis and
fayned falsenes/Wenest thou thus to deceyue me/it is longe
syth that I knewe the[e] /1 am no byrde to be locked ne take by
chaf/I know wel ynowh good corn/O how woldest thou
mocke me / yf I lete the[e] thus escape / thou myghtest wel haue
said this to one that knewe the[e] not/but to me thou losest
thy flateryng and swete floytyng/ffor I vnderstande to[o] wel
thy subtyl lyeng talys / Thow haste so ofte deceyued me / that
me behoutth now to take good hede of the[e]. Thou false
stynkvng knaue thou saist that thou hast spared me in this
batayl. loke hetherward to me / is not myn one eye out / and
therto hast thou wounded me in xx places in my heed, thou
woldest not suffre me so longe to reste. as to take ones my
breeth. I were ouer moche a fool yf I shold now spare the[e].
orbemercyful to the[e].so many a confusion andshameas thou
hast don to me. and that also that toucheth me most of alle.
that thou hast disworshipped me and sklaundred erswyn my
wyf* Whom I loue as wel as my self, and falsely forsest and
Digitized by t^ooQle
Trans, by
W. (.'ax ton
June 1481.
Reynard wins the battle.]
ITT
deceyuedest her. whiche shal neuer out of my herte. ffor as
ofte as it cometh to myn mynde/alle myn angre and hate
that I haue to the'e] reneweth.
In the mene w[h]ylle that ysegrym was thus spekyng. The
foxe bithoughte hym how he myght helpe hym self. And
stack his other hond after bytwene his legges. And grepe
the wulf fast by the colyons. And he wronge hem so sore
that for woo and payne/he muste crye lowde and howle /
Thenne the foxe drewe his other hond out of his mouth /The
wulf had so moche payne and anguyssh of the sore wryngyng
that the foxe dowed and wronge his genytours / that he spytte
blood / And for grete payne he byshote hym self
5>oto psegrpm tfce toulf teas ouercomen anti boto
tt>c batapl teas taken pp anti fpnp$$f)iD/9nD boto tbe
fore ban tbe toorsfjip capitulo rb°
11 is payne dyde hym more sorow and woo/than
his eye dyde that so sore bledde/and also it made
hym to ouerthrowe alle in a swowne ffor he had so
moche bledde/and also the threstyng that he suffrtd
in his colyons made hym so faynt that he had lost his myght.
Thenne reynard the foxe lepe vpon hym wyth al his myght /
And caught hym by the legges and drewe hym forth thurgh
the felde / that they alle myght see it / and he stack and smote
hym sore / Thenne were ysegryms fi ends al ful of sorowe/and
wente al wepyng vnto theyr lord the kynge / And prayde hym
that he wold doo sece the batayll and take it vp in to his
hande/ •
The kynge graunted it/and thenne wente the kepars/of
the felde the lupaerd and the lossem and saide to the foxe
and to the wulf/Our lord the kynge wil speke wyth yow/and
wyl that this batayl be ended / he wil take it in to his hand /
he desyreth that ye wyl gyue your stryf vnto hym ffor yf ony
of yow here were slayn / it shold be grete shame on bothe
sydes / For ye haue as moche worship of this felde as ye may
haue/
and they sayde to the foxe/Alle the beestis gyue to yow the
prys / that haue seen this bataylle /
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rrr\ 9T irans. dt
112 [The King takes op the battle, w.caxti.
June 1481.
The foxe said therof I thanke hem/and what that shal
plese my lord to commande that shal not I gaynsaye/
I desire no better/but to haue wonne the felde/late my
frendes come hether to me /1 wil take aduyse of them what
I shal doo/
They saide/that they thought it good/And also it was
reson in weyghty maters a man shold take aduys of his
frendes /
thenne cam dame slopecade/and grymbert the dasse her
husbond / dame rukenawe wyth her ij susters / Byteluys
and fulrompe her ij sones and hatenet her doughter/the
flyndermows and the wezel/And ther cam moo than xx/
whiche wolde not haue comen yf the foxe had loste the feeld*
So who that wynneth and cometh to hys aboue. he geteth
grete loos and worship/And who that is ouer throwen* And
hath the werse. to hym wyl no man gladly come. Ther cam
also to the foxe/the beuer. the otter and bothe theyr wyues
panthecrote and ordegale. And the ostrole. the Martre the
fychews. the fyret. the mowse. and the squyrel and many
moo than I can name. And alle bycause he had wonne
the feeld. ye[a] some cam that to fore had complayned on
hym and were now of his next kynne. and they shewde
hym right frendly chier and contenance. Thus fareth the
world now. who that is riche and hye on the wheel, he hath
many kynnesmen and frendes* that shal helpe to bere out his
welthe. But who that is nedy and in payne or in pouerte.
fyndeth but fewe frendes and kynnesmen* ffor euery man
almost es[c]heweth his companye and waye.
There was thenne grete feste / they blewe vp trompettis and
pyped wyth shalmoyses /
They sayden alle dere netiew blessyd be god that ye haue
sped wel / we were in grete drede and fere whan we saw yow
lye vnder /
reynart the foxe thanked alle them frendly/and resceyued
them wyth grete Ioye and gladnes / Thenne he asked of them
what they counseylled hym / yf he sholde gyue the felde vnto
the kynge or noo /
Dame slopecade sayde/ye[a] hardely cosyn/Ye may wyth
worship wel sette in it to his handes / And truste hym wel
ynough/
Thoo wente they alle wyth the kepars of the feelde vnto the
Digitized by t^ooQle
Trans, by , -
w. Caxton Reynard! ye have kept your day.] 113
June 1481.
kynge/And Reynard the foxe wente to fore them alle/wyth
trompes and pypes and moche other mynstralcye/The foxe
kneled doun to fore the kynge /
The kynge bad hym stande vp/and said to hym/reynard
ye be now Ioyeful/ye haue kepte your day worshipfully/I
discharge yow. and late yow goo frely quyte where it plesyth
yow / And the debate bytwene yow I holde it on me / And shal
discusse it by reson and by counseyl of noble men and wil
ordeyne therof that ought be doon by reson. at suche tymeas
ysegrym shal be hool. And thenne I shal. sende for yow to
come to me. And thenne by goddes grace I shal yeue out
the sentence and Iugement*
an ensample that tfje fore tolD to tfje fepnge toban
be ban toonne tbe felde. capitulo rlij°
H Y worthy and dere lord the kynge. saide the foxe
I am wel a greed and payd therwyth. But whan I
cam fyrst in to your court, ther wer many that
were felle and enuyous to me. Whiche neuer had
hurte ne cause of scathe by me /but they thought that they
myght beste ouer me/And alle they cryden wyth myn
enemyes ayenst me/and wold fayn haue destroyed me/
by cause they thought that the wulf was better withholden
and gretter wyth you than I was whiche am your humble
subget / They knewe none other thyng why ne wherfore / They
thoughte not as the wyse be woned to doo/that is what the
ende may happen /
My lorde thyse ben lyke a grete heep of hounndes whiche
I ones sawe stonde at a lordes place vpon a donghil / where
as they awayted that men sholde brynge them mete/Thenne
saw they an hound come out of the kychen / and had taken
there a fayr rybbe of beef er it was gyuen hym /And he
ran fast away wyth all /but the cook had espyed or he wente
away / and toke a grete bolle full of scaldyng water / and caste
it on his hyppes behynde / Wherof he thankyd nothyng the
cook / ffor the heer behynde was skalded of/ And his skyn
semed as it had be thurgh soden/Neuertheless he escaped
away/and kepte that he had wonne/
And whan his felaws the other houndes saw hym come
Exg. Sen. Lib. No. 1 . Q
Digitized by t^ooQle
m i raiia. uy
T14 [Reynard s story of The scalded dog. w. Caxton
' June 1481.
wyth this fayr rybbe / They called hym alle and saide to hym /
O hovve goodafrende is the cook to the[e]/Whiche hath gyuen
to the[e] so good a boone/Wheron his so moche flessh/
The hounde saide ye knowe nothyng therof/Ye preyse
me lyke as ye see me to fore wyth the bone /But ye haue
not seen me behynde / take hede and beholde me afterwarde
on myn buttokkis. And thenne ye shal knowe how I haue
deseruyd it.
And whan they had seen hym behynde on his hyppes how
that his skynne and his flessh was al rawe and thurgh soden /
tho growled them alle and were aferd of that syedyng water/
and wold not of his felawship/but fledde and ran away from
hym/and lete hym ther allone/
Ee my lord this right haue thyse false beestis / whan
[they be made lojrdes and may gete their desire/and
Iwhan they be niyghty and doubted / thenne ben they
extorcionners and scatte and pylle the peple/and eten them
lyke as they were forhongred houndes / These ben they that
here the bone in her mouth/Noman dar haue to doo wyth
hem/but preyse alle that they bedryue/Noman dar saye
other wyse/but suche as shal plese hem by cause they wold
not be shorn / and somme helpe them forth in theyrvnryghtwys
dedes by cause they wold haue parte and lykke theyr fyngres /
and strengthe them in theyr euyl lyf and werkis/O dere
lorde how lytyl seen they that do thus after behynde them
what the ende shal be atte laste they fal fro hye to lowe in
grete shame and sorowe / and thenne theyr weerkis come to
knowleche and be opene in suche wyse that noman hath
pyte ne compasconn on them / in theyr meschief and trouble /
and euery man curse them and saye euyl by them to their
shame and vylanye/many of suche haue ben blamed and
shorn ful nyghe that they had no worshipe ne prouffyt / but
lose theyr heer as the hound dyde. that is theyr frendes.
whiche haue holpe them to couere their mysdedes and
extorconns. lyke as the heer coueryth the skynn/And wehan
they haue sorow and shame for theyr olde trespaces. thenne
eche body pluckyth his hand fro hym. And flee, lyke as the
houndes dyde fro hym that was scalded wyth the syedyng
water/and lete hym thyse extorcions in her sorow and nede/
Digitized by LiOOQ IC
W.* Caxton Reynard made one of the King’s Justices.] 11*5
June 1481. J J
|^|Y dere lorde kynge I beseche you to remembre this
SPyw 5fl exam pl e °f me /it shal not be ayenst your worship
|B|^bS|ne wysedom/What wene ye how many ben ther suche
false extorcionners now in thise dayes / ye [a] moche werse than
an hound / that bereth suche a bone in his mouth / in townes /
in grete lordes courtes / whiche vvyth grete facing and bracyng
oppresse the poure peple wyth grete wronge / and selle tlieyr
fredom and pryuelages / and bere them on hond of thyngis
that they neuer knewe ne thoughte / And all for to gete good
for theyr synguler proffyte / God gyue them all shame and
soone destroye them who somme euer they be that so doo /
but god be thanked said the foxe / ther may noman endwyte
me ne my lygnage ne kynne of suche werkys/but that we
shal acquyte vs/And comen in the lyghte/I am not a ferd
of ony/that can saye on me ony thyng that I haue don
otherwyse than a trewe man ought to doo / Alleway the foxe /
shall a byde the foxe though alle his enemyes hadde sworn
the contrarye/ My dere lorde the kynge I loue you wyth my
herte aboue alle lordes/And neuer for noman wold I torne
fro yow/But abyde by yow to the utterist how wel it hath
ben othenvyse enformed your hyenes/1 haue neuertheles
alway do the best/and forth so wylle doo alle my lyf that I
can or may /
l£>oto tfje fepng forgaf rbe fore alle r&pngis / ano
mane bpm souerapn ant) grettest oner al W
lanOes. ca° rliir
I He kynge sayde Reynard ye be one of them that
loweth me homage* whiche I wyl that ye all way so
[doo. And also I wylle that erly and late ye be of
Jmy counseyl. and one of my Iustyses/See wel to[o]
that ye not mysdoo/ne trespace nomore. I sette yow agayn
in alle your myght and power, lyke as ye were to fore and
see that ye further alle maters to the beste righte* For whan
ye sette your wytte and counseyl to vertue and goodnesse*
thenne may not our court be wythout your aduyse and
counseyl. ffor here is non that is lyke to yow in sharp and
hye counseyll ne subtyller in fyndyng a remedye for a
Digitized by v^ooQle
Il6 [ISEGRIM HAS NO MORTAL WOUNDS, w. Caxton
June 1481.
meschief. And thynke ye on th[e]example that ye yourself
haue tolde. And that ye haunte rightwysnes and be to me
trewe. I will frohens forth werke and doo by your aduyse
and counseyll. he lyueth not that yf he mysdede yow. But
I shold sharply aduenge and wreke it on hym ye shalle
oueralle speke and saye my wordes. And in alle my lande
shall ye be aboue alle other souerayne and my bayle. That
Offyce I gyue yow. ye may wel occupye it wyth worship/
Alle reynardis frendis and lignage thanketh the kynge
heyly /
The kynge sayde /1 wolde doo more ffor your sake / than ye
wene /1 pray yow alle that ye remembre hym that he be trewe /
Dame rukenawe thenne sayd yes sykerly my lord / that shal
he euer be/And thynke ye not the contrary/for yf he were
otherwyse / He were not of our kynne ne lignage And I wold
euer myssake hym /and wold euer hyndre hym to my power/
Reynart the foxe thanked the kynge with fayr curtoys
wordes /And sayd/dere lorde I am not worthy to haue the
worship that ye doo to me /1 shal thynke theron and be trewe
to you also longe as I lyue / and shal gyue you as holsom
holsom counseyl as shal be expedient to your good grace /
here wyth he departed wyth his frendes fro the kynge /
Ow herke how Isegrym the wulf dyde / bruyn the bere/
thybert the catte / and erswynde and her chyldren wyth
their lignage drewen the wulf out of the.felde / and leyde
hym vpon a lyter of heye / and couerd hym warm / and loked to
his woundes whiche were wel. xxv* and ther came wyse maistres
and surgyens. Whiche bonde them and weeshe hem he was so
seke and feble / that he had lost his felynge / But they rubbed
and wryued hym vnder his temples and eyen / that he sprange
out of his swound/and cryde so lowde that alle they were
aferde / they had wende that he had been wood
But the maistres gaf hym adrynke that comforted his herte
and made hym to slepe They comforted his wyf / And tolde to
her that ther was no deth wounde ne paryl of his lyf Thenne
the court brake vp/and the beestis departed and wente to
theyr places and homes that they came froo.
Digitized by t^ooQle
W.* Caxton Reynard returns home with worship.] 117
June 1481.
!£>oto tfje fore toptf) fjis ftenots ano Itgnage DcparreD
noblp fro tfre fepnge / and toente to W castel
mallepecDups / capitulo rltij 0
I Eynart the foxe toke his leue honestly of the kynge
!and of the quene. And they bad hym he shold not
|tarye longe. But shortly retorne to them agayn’
_he answerd and said dere kynge and quene alway
at your commandement I shal be redy/yf ye nede ony thyng
whiche god forbede I wold alway be redy wyth my body and
my good to helpe yow / and also al my frendes and lignage in
lyke wyse shal obeye your commandement and desire/ye
haue hyely deseruyd it / god quyte it yow and yeue yow grace
longe to lyue / And I desyre your licence and leue to goo home
to my .wyf and chyldren / And yf your good grace wil ony thyng /
late me haue knowleche of it And ye shal fynde me alway redy /
Thus departed the foxe wyth fayr wordes fro the kynge.
I Owwho that coude sette hym in reynardis crafte/and
coude behaue hym in flateryng and lyeng as he dyde / he
_shold I trowe be herde / bothe wyth the lordes spyrytuel
and temporel/The[y] ben many and also the moste parte
that crepe after his waye and his hole/The name that was
gyuen to hym abydeth alway stylle wyth hym /he hathe lefte
many of his crafte in this world/Whiche allevvaye wexeand
become myghty/for who that wyl not vse reynardis crafte
now is nought worth in the world now in ony estate that is of
myght. But yf he can crepe in reynardis nette/and hath ben
his scoler / thenne may he dwelle with vs / For thenne knoweth
he wel the way how he may aryse/And is sette vp aboue of
euery man/Ther is in the world moche seed left of the foxe/
whiche now oueral groweth and cometh sore vp / though they
haue no rede berdes/Yet ther ben founden mo foxes now
than euer were here to fore / The ryghtwys peple ben al loste /
trouthe and rightwysnes ben exyled and fordriuen / And for
them ben abyden wyth vs couetyse / falshede / hate and
enuye/Thyse reyne now moche in euery contre/For is it in
the popes court/the emperours / the kynges/ dukes or ony
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n8 [The Author’s reflections on the story, w.c^ton
June 1481.
other lordes where someuer it be eche man laboureth to put
other out fro his worship / offyce and power/for to make hym
sylf to clymme hyewith lyes/with flateryng / wyth symonye /
wyth money /or wyth strengthe and force/ther is none thyng
byloued ne knowen in the court now adays but money /
the money is better byloued than god/For men doo
moche more therfore / ffor who someuer bryngeth money,
shal be wel receyuyd and shal haue alle his desyre / is it of
lordes or of ladyes or ony other/that money doth moche
harme / Money bryngeth many in shame and drede of lyf /
and bryngeth false wytnes ayenst true peple for to
gete money. Hit causeth vnclennes of lyuyng* lyeng. and
lecherye. Now clerkes goon to rome/to parys and to many
another place, for to lerne reynardis crafte* is he clerke/is he
laye man* eueriche of them tredeth in the foxes path, and
seketh his hole. The world is of suche condycion now. that
euery man seketh hym self in alle maters. I wote not what
ende shal come to vs herof Alle wyse men may sorowe wel
herfore. I fere that for the grete falsenes thefte robberye and
murdre that is now vsed so moche and comonly. and also the
vnshamefast lecherye and auoultry bosted blowen a brood with
the auauntyng of the same, that wythout grete repentaunce
and penaunce therfore / that god will take vengeaunce and
punysshe vs sore therfore/whom I humbly beseche and to
whom nothyng is hyd that he wylle gyue vs grace to make
amendes to hym therfore/and that we maye rewle vs to his
playsyr/
And her wyth wil I leue ffor what haue I to wryte of thise
mysdedis /1 haue ynowh to doo with myn owne self / And so it
were better that I helde my pees and suffre / And the beste
that I can doo for to amende my self now in this tyme. And
so I counseyle euery man to doo here in this present lyf/ and
that shal be most our prouffyt/For after this lyf/cometh no
tyme that we may occupye to our auantage for to amende vs
ffor thenne shal euery man answere for hym self and bere his
own burthen /
lEynardis frendes and lignageto the nombre of xl haue
[taken also theyr leue of the kynge / And wente alle to
ydre wyth the foxe / whiche was right glad that he
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I rans. »y a , <*-» T
W.Caxton 1HE AUTHOR S EPILOGUE.] 119
June 1431.
had so wel sped/And that he stode so wel in the kynges
grace, he thought that he had no shame, but that he was so
grete with the kyng that he myght helpe ana further his
frendes / and hyndre his enemyes / and also to doo what he
wolde. wythout he sholdbe blamed yf he wold be wyse/
Theffoxe and his frendis wente so longe to gydrethat they
camen to his burgh to Maleperduys. ther they alle toke leue
eche of other wyth fayr and courtoys wordes / Reynard dyde
to them grete reuerence and thanked them alle frendly. of
theyr good fayth and also worship that they had don and shewd
to hym. And profred to eche of them his seruyse yf they
had nede wyth body and goodes / And herwyth they departed
and eche of them wente to theyr own howses/
The foxe wente to dame ermelyn his wyf whiche welcomed
hym frendly he tolde to her and to his chyldren/alle the
wonder/that to hym was befallen in the cdurt. And forgate
not a worde/but tolde to them euery dele/how he had
escaped/Thenne were they glad that theyr fader was so
enhaunsed and grete wyth the kynge/And the foxe lyued
forthon wyth his wyf and his chyldren in great Ioye and
gladnes/
Now who that said to yow of the flfoxe more or lesse than ye
haue herd or red/I holde it for lesynge/but this that ye
haue herd or red/that may ye byleue wel/and who that
byleueth it not/is not therfore out of the right byleue/how
be it ther be many yf that they had seen it/they shold haue
the lasse doubte of it / for ther ben many thynges in the world
whiche ben byleuyd though they were neuer seen/Also ther
ben many fygures / playes founden/that neuer were done ne
happed / But for an example to the peple/that they may ther
by the better/vse and folowe vertue/and t[o]eschewe synne
and vyces / in lyke wvse may it be by this booke / that who that
wyl rede this mater / though it be of iapes and bourdes / yet he
may fynde therin many a good wysedom and lernynges/By
whiche he may come to vertue and worship. Ther is no
good man blamed herein/hit is spoken generally / Late euery
man take his owne part as it belongeth and behoueth / and he
that fyndeth hym gylty in ony dele or part therof/late hym
bettre and amende hym And he that is veryly good /1 pray god
Digitized by t^ooQle
120 [William Caxton’s Epilogue. w.ca’xton
* June 1481.
kepe hym therm And yf ony thyng be said or wreten herin /
that may greue or dysplease ony man/blame not me/but the
foxe / for they be his wordes and not myne /
Prayeng alle them that shal see this lytyl treatis / to correcte
and amende/Where they shal fynde faute/For I haue not
added ne mynusshed but haue folovved as nyghe as I can
my copye whiche was in dutche / and by me william Caxton
translated in to this rude and symple englyssh in th[e]abbey
of westmestre. fynysshed the vj daye of Juyn the yere of
our lord ’M.CCCC.Lxxxj. and the xxj yere of the regne of
kynge Edward the iiijth /
It)crc enCctb t&e bjotorpe of UepnarQ tbe fore etc.
s
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